Crews were dispatched shortly after 10 a.m. to the hotel at 1111 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Eric Nickel told Noozhawk.
The fire was on the roof in an area of the hotel being remodeled, Nickel said, adding that when firefighters arrived, they found workers attempting to put out the blaze.
The fire likely was caused by the roofers, Nickel said, noting that a propane tank and a hot torch were found near the ignition point.
Firefighters used a ladder truck to make access to the roof, and pulled apart some of the roofing material to gain access to the flames.
The fire was declared under control at 10:52 a.m., Nickel said.
He noted that the flames were kept in check by the hotel’s sprinkler system.
“With the building under construction and the walls all opened up, we could have lost the whole thing if not for the sprinklers,” he said.
Crews searched the first and second floors of the affected area to make sure everyone was out, Nickel said.
Firefighters remained on scene late Sunday morning doing overhaul, and an investigator was called in to search for the cause of the fire.
No injuries were reported.
With all of the city’s fire engines and trucks assigned to the incident, crews from Santa Barbara County and Montecito were called in to provide coverage in the city, Nickel said.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.
