Category Archives: Hotel / Motel

Columbia, MO – Sprinkler system activated and 18 dogs rescued from fire at motel

The Boone County Fire Protection District rescued 18 dogs out of a Midway motel Friday morning, after responding to a commercial structure fire.

Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp told KOMU 8 that crews were originally dispatched around 8 a.m. to a reported fire alarm at the Budget Inn at Midway. It “quickly” changed to a commercial structure fire.

Crews saw smoke coming from the lower level of the two-story motel. 

Firefighters made entry to the motel where they found the fire in room 209. Blomenkamp said the sprinkler system was flowing in the room, helping keep the fire in check. 

Firefighters extinguished the remaining hot spots and rescued 18 dogs located in the room.

Blomenkamp said the investigation is ongoing.

KOMU 8 has reached out to Boone County Animal Control and the Central Missouri Humane Society for comment but has not heard back by the publishing of this story.

Los Angeles, CA – Hotel fire kept in check by sprinkler system

Two people were hospitalized with minor injuries suffered in a fire Sunday on the 22nd floor of the 33-story Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

The fire appeared to be largely in or near a utility or service area (trash receptacle, ice machine, etc.) at the iconic structure, authorities said.

A third person treated at the scene declined further care, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched at 6:49 a.m. to the greater alarm blaze at 404 S. Figueroa St., Humphrey said.

The fire, which was held in check by the structure’s sprinkler system, was under control at 7:20 a.m., he added.

“Staff and patrons who calmly and safely evacuated the iconic building are now being provided hotel access, with patrol below the 22nd floor being allowed to return to guest accommodations,” Humphrey said. “Many of the 113 firefighters assigned to this incident are now working closely with hotel staff to manage residual smoke on floors 22-66 and localized water removal on floors 21 and 22.”

Riverside, CA – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at hotel; No injuries reported

A man was taken into custody for allegedly setting fire to his room at a hotel in Riverside.

Firefighters were sent to the Hyatt Place hotel at 3500 Market St. at 10:09 p.m. Monday regarding “reports of (an) occupant in a hotel room trying to burn down his room he was occupying,” the City of Riverside Fire Department said in a statement.

“Firefighters arrived to find the hotel being evacuated, light smoke on the second floor and the hotel room door locked with a fire sprinkler activation,” the statement said.

“The environment was safe for RPD officers to assist firefighters with opening the door and securing the hotel room. Firefighters discovered a small fire in the hotel room extinguished by the fire sprinkler system.”

The suspect was not in the room but was found in the building and detained by Riverside police officers. His name was not immediately released.

Firefighters assisted hotel staff with water removal from several hotel rooms and a hallway. Four hotel rooms were affected by the water from the fire sprinkler system. Damage was estimated at $100,000, the fire department reported.

About 50 occupants were evacuated from the structure but were allowed to re-occupy their rooms by about 11 p.m., the fire department reported. Hotel management accommodated occupants who were displaced by the water damage to other unoccupied hotel rooms.

City of Riverside Fire Department Arson Investigators responded to the scene and working with RPD conducted an investigation that is still ongoing.

There were no injuries.

Ottumwa, IA – Fire at hotel quickly extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Crews continue to review and repair the sixth floor of Hotel Ottumwa after Monday night’s fire. Residents were evacuated from the building Monday evening as firefighters put out a fire in an elevator storage room and funneled smoke out of the building.

The hotel is now letting residents back in, though at time of publication the power is still off on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors. The elevator is shut off, with the hotel’s maintenance worker saying it likely won’t be back up until Friday.

Fire Chief Tony Miller says the fire was caused by an electrical issue in an elevator storage closet. An electrical meter corroded, sparking a fire, and catching a roll-up mattress in the room on fire. It activated a sprinkler on the 6th floor, which firefighters say helped in putting out the fire quickly.

However, Chief Miller notes these types of sparks can just happen from time to time. “Hotel Ottumwa is maintained pretty good, but occasionally you have an accident. And that was what this was: nothing but an accident. Between the fire department and health department, we inspect that place on a regular basis. So if there’s anything that’s off kilter, we take care of it and make sure it’s maintained like it should be.”

The fire department is reviewing the fire damage done to the room and sixth floor of the hotel. They also had to kick in a door on the sixth floor to rescue a resident. Chief Miller says they took two people to the hospital, both with smoke immolation.

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system activated for fire at luxor hotel; No injuries reported

Fire crews are investigating a fire that started inside a hotel room at the Luxor on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Clark County Fire Department, the Combined Communications Center was notified of the fire around 3 PM.

Crews headed to the hotel’s fire control room upon arrival, where control panels indicated sprinkler activity coming from the 12th floor.

Fire personal headed up to the 10th floor by elevator then proceeded to walk up the stairs to the 12th floor.

Crews headed inside the room where the fire was reported and found an extinguished mattress fire that was put out by the sprinklers.

The room occupant was taken downstairs where she refused medical treatment. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire, as well as the estimated damage, is still under investigation.

Newport, OR – Sprinkler system controls laundry room fire at hotel

The automatic sprinkler system at the Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn controlled a fire in the laundry room believed to have been started by spontaneous combustion.

The Newport Fire Department responded to a commercial fire call at 3019 North Coast Highway at about 12:45 a.m. Monday. Fire Chief Rob Murphy said responding firefighters found a blaze in the laundry room that had largely been extinguished by the facility’s sprinkler system, and they were able to quickly put down smolders and clear smoke from the building.

The entire hotel was briefly evacuated as a precaution — Murphy praised management for their execution of that process — but there was no damage to the main building, and guests were able to return to their rooms.

Murphy said the fire started by spontaneous combustion in a pile of laundry. Even after washed, the chief said, cloth can retain residue of oils and other chemicals. When that material is piled in large stacks, especially if it contains moisture, the oxidation of those chemicals releases heat with no place to escape, eventually building to ignition.

This kind of fire can be prevented by spreading laundry out as opposed to piling it, the chief said, adding that the incident was a great example of the value of fire alarm and suppression systems.

In an email to the News-Times, hotel manager Joshua Conrad thanked emergency personnel for their response and support.

Laredo, TX – Sprinkler system activated for suspected arson fire at hotel

Arson is suspected in a fire reported at a local hotel, according to the Laredo Fire Department.

LFD crews responded to a structure fire at about 3:26 a.m. on June 1 at the Amerik Suites in the 6500 Block of Metro Court. Firefighters said they encountered an active fire on the first floor bathroom and the west wing hallway.

First responders said the fire activated the sprinkler system, causing flooding to the affected area. There was minimal fire damage to the building, according to first responders.

The building was evacuated at the time of the incident. A fire watch was initiated until the sprinkler system was reactivated. Crews turned over the building to hotel management.

LFD officials are investigating the fire as a possible arson. To provide information on the case, call 795-2800 or Laredo Crime Stoppers at 727-TIPS (8477). Information provided via Crime Stoppers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

San Diego, CA – Fire on 10th floor of hotel extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A minor fire in a high-rise hotel next to Petco Park prompted an evacuation of the structure today along with closures of various nearby streets in the western reaches of the downtown East Village district.

The non-injury blaze erupted within a mini-refrigerator in a 10th-floor guest room at the Omni San Diego Hotel about 1:15 p.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

The flames spread to a wooden cabinet and a small section of wall before being extinguished by a built-in fire-sprinkler system, SDFRD spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.

“The hotel (also) has an automatic system that notifies everyone inside to evacuate when … activated,” she said. “So that is what took place. The only fire damage was to the room itself where the fire started. There is some water damage to other areas.”

Authorities shut down a stretch of L Street, which fronts the hotel, and parts of J Street, K Street, Sixth Avenue and Tony Gwynn Drive while firefighters made sure the blaze was fully under control.

Austin, TX – Arson Fire on 10th floor of Driskill Hotel extinguished by sprinkler system

There was a small fire on the 10th floor of the historic Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin Monday morning.

The Austin Fire Department says the hotel’s sprinkler system extinguished the fire. Only one room was impacted by the fire. Fire crews are now working to reduce any smoke or water damage.

The hotel has been evacuated and there are street closures along Brazos Street between Sixth and Seventh streets.

So far the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Portland, OR – Sprinkler system activated for cooking fire at hotel

Smoke alarms were blaring and water was flowing after one man’s cooking led to a small fire overnight.

Fire crews were called out to the Larkspur Landing Suite Hotel in Hillsboro just after 1:30 a.m. Once they arrived, firefighters saw one hotel room’s fire sprinklers were running and smoke was filling the corridor. While crews went to work, the hotel’s occupants were told to shelter in place.

Firefighters reached the hotel room the water and smoke were coming from to find a man trying to extinguish a fire in the room’s kitchen area. The fire itself was extinguished and never reached any other rooms — but water from the sprinklers had flowed into the hallway and several other rooms.

Crews turned off the water flow then used a water vacuum to clean up the affected areas.

The man did suffer some minor burns to his hands and legs, but he denied medical service. No other occupants were injured, but some were relocated to other rooms.

An investigation determined the cause of the fire was unattended cooking. Remember to always be present while cooking and to keep things that can burn away from stovetops.