Category Archives: Hotel / Motel

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Park City, UT – Sprinkler system puts out electrical fire at hotel; No injuries reported

A fire in an electrical panel at a Park City hotel forced the evacuation of part of the building on Wednesday morning, the Park City Police Department said.

The incident occurred at a little bit before 6 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Park City – The Yarrow on Park Avenue. The Police Department said nobody was injured.

The Park City Building Department investigated, finding that water leaking from a circulation pump attached to a boiler went through the floor and into the level below. The water leaked onto the electrical panel, shorting the panel, Kurt Simister, the fire marshal at City Hall, said. The panel then caught fire.

He said the fire burned insulation off wiring. The fire-sprinkler system was triggered and extinguished the flames, Simister said. He said the fire was determined to be accidental.

Simister said people staying in the southeast wing of the hotel were ordered out of their rooms for several hours during the emergency response. Phil Kirk, a police captain, said people staying in more than 50 rooms were ordered out of their rooms during the evacuation. The hotel provided food for the people who needed to leave their rooms, Kirk said.

The hotel recently underwent a major renovation. Simister said the electrical system, though, was not upgraded as part of the project. It is “as built, years ago” in the 1970s, Simister said about the electrical system.

“We treat these like they’re real every time,” Simister said about the fire and the decision to order people to leave part of the building.

Vail Resorts, the Colorado-based owner of Park City Mountain Resort, manages the hotel. A PCMR spokesperson said the hotel has resumed normal operations. The damage was “minimal” and is expected to be repaired quickly, the spokesperson said.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Hanover, NJ – Suspicious fire at Marriott Hotel extinguished with help from sprinkler system

An investigation is underway in an effort to determine who started a fire in a hotel by wrapping a cigar inside a towel and placing it in a linen cart, police said. On March 4, Sgt. John Schauder along with Patrolman Dominic Kaiser responded to the Hanover Marriott for a fire alarm activation. The ensuing investigation revealed that someone had placed a lit cigar in a rolled up towel which was then put in a linen cart that was located on the eighth floor by the service elevator, police said.

The cigar eventually lit the contents of the linen cart on fire resulting in the fire sprinklers being activated which extinguished the fire along with the help of employees from the hotel, police said. There was fire damage to the linen and the walls in close proximity of the linen cart. There was also water damage to the area due to the sprinkler system being activated, police said.

The Cedar Knolls Fire Department as well as a police detective responded to assist with the investigation. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit was notified as well. An investigation is ongoing, police said. No injuries were reported.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Elkridge, MD – Arson fire at motel snuffed out by sprinkler system

An Ellicott City man is facing charges in connection with a fire at the Hillside Motel in Elkridge on Wednesday. Dennis Charles Turnbaugh, 26, of the 8300 block of Sunrise Court in Ellicott City, was identified as the suspect in the blaze that broke out around 6:21 p.m., according to police.  Authorities said they were called to the 6300 block of Washington Boulevard for a fire that was snuffed out by the sprinkler system. According to police, the damage was minimal, contained to one room.

When officials investigated the blaze, they determined it had been intentionally set. Turnbaugh was found soon after and charged with first-degree arson, five counts of reckless endangerment and malicious destruction of property, officials reported. He was being held Thursday without bail at the Howard County Detention Center.  Arrests do not indicate convictions.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Boise, ID – Late night laundry fire at hotel contained with help from sprinkler system

The fire, apparently sparked in oil-soaked towels, was extinguished in about five minutes, the Boise Fire Department reported on Twitter. One employee was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, KBOI-TV, Channel 2 reports.  The fire was called in 8:50 p.m. at the hotel, 2900 Chinden Blvd., and was confined to a laundry area that is separate from the hotel building, the fire department reports. A fire sprinkler helped control the spread of the fire, according the BFD.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Tucson, AZ – No injuries as sprinkler system contains hotel fire started by prayer candle

Fire officials say a prayer candle caused a fire in a Tucson hotel room on Monday, Jan. 30.

According to a news release from the Tucson Fire Department, fire crews were dispatched to the hotel in the 700 block of W. Starr Pass Boulevard, near I-10 shortly after 8:30 a.m. and the fire was under control by 8:44 a.m.

The surrounding area was evacuated as firefighters extinguished the fire in a ground-floor room.

The fire department credits the hotel’s sprinkler system with keeping the fire from spreading before the firefighters arrived.

There was no one in the room, which is used by hotel staff, when the fire started.

No injuries were reported.

Fire damage was contained to the one room and Code Enforcement is working with the hotel to determine whether other rooms were affected. Damage estimates have not yet been determined.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Baton Rouge, LA – Fire in mechanical closet of Towne Place Suites hotel put out by sprinkler system

The St. George Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the Towne Place Suites, located at 8735 Summa Ave. around 5 p.m. Monday evening.  Firefighters observed dense smoke coming from a downstairs maintenance closet.  The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system.  St. George firefighters conducted a thorough inspection to assure the fire had not spread into walls, attic spaces, or voids between floors of the three-story hotel. No additional fire was discovered.  No injuries were reported in this incident as hotel staff evacuated guests and employees from the building.  The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. 

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

New Haven, CT – Electrical fire at Marriott near Yale University knocked down by sprinkler system

New Haven Fire Department is on the scene of a fire at the Marriott on Whalley Ave. New Haven Fire Department sent out tweets around 2:00 p.m. Saturday saying there was a reported fire at the Courtyard New Haven at Yale on the 5th floor.  According to officials, the fire was an electrical fire with heavy smoke.  They say it was knocked down by a sprinkler and contained quickly.  New Haven Fire Officials are on the scene conducting an investigation.  Officials at the hotel say there was a brief evacuation, but guests are being allowed back into the hotel.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Lafayette, LA – Fire at Super 8 Motel caused by child playing with matches is put out by sprinkler system

At 9:57 a.m. Monday, Lafayette firefighters responded to the Super 8 Motel at 2224 NE Evangeline Thruway for a mattress fire in a room on the second floor. When firefighters arrived, the sprinkler system had activated and extinguished the fire. Moderate smoke was still in the hotel room. Firefighters used equipment to exhaust the smoke from the room and area adjacent. The water for the sprinkler system seeped down to the lower floor and caused water damage to lobby area underneath. No other rooms were affected.  Fire officials determined the fire was started by a 6-year-old who was playing with a lighter and ignited the mattress. No injuries were reported.  The fire was ruled an accident.

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Bensalem, PA – Kitchen fire at Holiday Inn hotel controlled with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

A kitchen fire forced the evacuation of the Holiday Inn near the Parx Casino in Bensalem Friday night, authorities said.  The fire broke out around 9 p.m. at the hotel at 3327 Street Rd. The sprinkler system was activated and the fire was declared under control about 25 minutes later.  The emergency left some people briefly trapped in elevators. No injuries were reported. The hotel’s website says the building has six floors and 167 rooms. Hotel employees could not be reached by phone.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Washington, D.C. – Early morning laundry fire at Capital Hilton controlled with help from sprinkler system

A small fire at the Capital Hilton in D.C. sent guests out into the streets Tuesday morning. Fire crews were called to the hotel at 1001 16th Street about 5 a.m. after the fire in the laundry room activated the sprinkler system.  No injuries have been reported.  Guests have returned to their rooms.  Investigators will determine the exact cause of the blaze.