Hotel / Motel Queensbury, NY – Sprinkler system puts out fire at resort hotel and indoor water park January 18, 2019 viking210 Firefighters responded to a smoky fire Tuesday night at the Great Escape Lodge, but the hotel was closed to guests at the time and no injuries or major damage was reported. The fire was spotted around 7 p.m. and started in the bar area of the Tall Tales Tavern restaurant in the lodge, according to Queensbury Central Fire Chief Richard Jones. Minor damage was reported. “The sprinkler system put the fire out,” he said. A spokeswoman for Great Escape owner Six Flags said Wednesday that the fire was traced to spontaneous combustion, as rags and floor stain were placed in a small plastic trash container ignited, and the lodge’s sprinkler system was triggered and knocked it down. Firefighters from around the region responded as mutual aid and used industrial fans to ventilate the building, Warren County Fire Coordinator Brian LaFlure said. “There was quite a bit of smoke,” LaFlure said. LaFlure referred comment to Jones for details as to the investigation, but he could not be reached Wednesday morning. Six Flags Great Escape President Eric Gilbert said Tuesday night that there were no guests in the hotel at the time, but two staff members who were in the building safely evacuated. Company spokeswoman Brittany Gillespie said Wednesday morning that the fire will not keep the lodge from re-opening Wednesday afternoon as planned. The restaurant suffered “minimal” damage, but it was unclear whether it would be open for guests on Wednesday. The lodge was not open Tuesday night because it closes some weekdays during the winter for routine maintenance, Gillespie said.
