Category Archives: Fire

Hospitality Industry Fire Safety Risks: South Carolina Hotels Implement "Preventative Maintenance" Program Including Housekeeping Checking Smoke Detectors After Guests Depart

“…the resort says it follows a detailed preventative maintenance program with a 300 item checklist, ensuring that everything from electric outlets to appliances inside guest rooms are safe to use…upon the departure of each guest, housekeeping is instructed to check the smoke detector for safety to make sure it’s still in working condition…”

Studies show that working smoke detectors cut your chance of dying in a fire by half.

When it comes to hotel fire safety, Springmaid Beach Resort on Ocean Blvd learned just how important smoke detectors are, after a small electrical fire broke out in the boiler room this past summer.

“We had to clear all those rooms out of people that were right around it and move them to a different property,” says Donald Hovis, the marketing manager for the establishment.

It’s a safety measure more hotels are starting to do. In Georgetown, the fire department has teamed up with hotels requiring cleaning staff to check smoke detectors after each guest checks out of the room. The staff also leaves a card stating the test has been done for the next occupant to see.

While Myrtle Beach doesn’t require it, the fire department says it’s been working with hotels for years on getting housekeeping to check the devices, and the fire marshal says he’s confident Grand Strand hotels are ensuring guests’ safety.

Several hotels we checked with along Ocean Boulevard say they check them regularly. Hovis says following this summer’s small fire, they learned another valuable lesson.

For more:  http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/19806893/grand-strand-hotels-reveal-fire-safety-plan

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: South Dakota Hotel Rebuilt After Fire Started By "Cigarette On Couch" Causes $160,000 In Damage

“…Investigators have determined that the fire was started by a cigarette on a couch in the second floor room of Bradley Morris, the tenant who died…The fire caused extensive smoke damage, however, with the second floor most affected…It took nearly three months for workers from Service Master to clean all of the building, a job that included painstaking work on the metal framework of the suspended ceiling…”

The heat of the fire was intense enough to burst the windows of the apartment, but the construction of the building helped keep the blaze contained, Chadron Fire Chief Pat Gould told The Chadron Record shortly after the fire. The fire burned through the ceiling of the apartment, but its spread was limited by the building’s brick walls and the lath and plaster construction of the upper levels.

The clean up job also included replacing every carpet and smoke alarm in the building, repainting, and completely reworking the apartment where the fire started, the Bagneschi’s said.

The work ended up costing some $160,000, a figure doesn’t count the time Bagneschis put into the project themselves. “It’s been quite a chore,” said Larry.

For more:  http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/communities/chadron/fire-damaged-blaine-hotel-completely-restored/article_3024cb98-1238-11e2-9cad-0019bb2963f4.html

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Motel Fire Caused By Guest Smoking In Bed; Several "Oxygen Tanks" Were In Room

“…The man (was) on oxygen, and McConnell says there were several oxygen tanks in the man’s room…Officials investigating the cause of the blaze told KSPR News the fire was indeed accidental. The fire started near the bed, and officials had warned the man before about smoking in bed…”

Fire officials say a fire that killed a man in a west Springfield motel was accidental in nature. The call to fire crews was made around 2:15 Monday morning. The flames were coming out of one room of the Cloud Drift Motel, 3601 West Sunshine Street, west of West Bypass.

An attempt was made to rescue a man who was staying in the room, but the flames were too high for anyone to get inside. Brookline Fire Chief Larry McConnell says his crew is familiar with the man who died in the fire. He says they have responded to medical calls for him.

Once tankers arrived, the fire was put out quickly. Fire crews from Brookline and Willard responded. The Greene County Sheriff’s Department is assisting with the investigation. No firefighters were hurt. The room where the victim was staying is damaged heavily. The unit next door was also burned, but no one was there when the fire happened.

For more:  http://www.kspr.com/news/kspr-fatal-fire-one-man-is-dead-after-a-fire-in-west-springfield-20121008,0,6937042.story

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Wyoming Motel Fire Causes $14 Million In Damage; Man Indicted For Role In Starting Fire

“…The fire at the historic motel, located at 1700 W. Lincolnway, destroyed guest rooms, a restaurant, the lobby and the bar. It caused about $14 million in property damage. Lodging buildings didn’t burn. It was determined that the fire was set intentionally…”

A New Mexico man has been indicted for his alleged involvement with the Sept. 15, 2010, fire at the Hitching Post Inn here. Robert Rodriguez, 44, was indicted by a Wyoming federal grand jury Friday, according to a release from the Wyoming district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The two-count indictment says Rodriguez maliciously damaged and destroyed the Hitching Post by means of  fire. It also says he used fire to aid and abet mail and wire fraud. It is  unclear from the release whether charges have been filed. Rodriguez is being  detained without bail.

The investigation into the fire is ongoing, the release says. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is leading
the investigation with help from the Cheyenne Police Department and Cheyenne Fire and Rescue.

City officials closed the motel in September 2009, citing safety concerns and code violations.

CJM Hospitality bought the property from New Jersey-based Matiff Cheyenne Hospitality in the wake of Matiff filing for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection.

The 10.82-acre property was appraised for more than $6 million. At the time of the fire, CJM was putting in $500,000
worth of renovations. Representatives said they planned to reopen the west side of the structure and two unattached buildings.

For more: http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2012/09/29/news/01top_09-29-12.txt

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Hospitality Industry Risk Solutions: Oklahoma Restaurant Roof Fire Causes Extensive Structural, Water And Smoke Damage

“…Firefighters arrived quickly, but struggled with the fire because flames became trapped between two layers of the roof toward the back of the building…”

A popular Oklahoma City pizza restaurant is closed following a fire early Tuesday morning. A police officer driving down N. Western near Nichols Hills first reported heavy smoke coming out of the Hideaway Pizza restaurant around 3 a.m.

Once they doused the flames, crews surveyed the damage. It appeared most of the heavy fire damage is in the rear of the structure near the kitchen area. There is smoke and water damage throughout the building.

Firefighters are still trying to figure out what started the blaze; arson investigators and a State Health Department representative spent several hours at the scene.

Fire investigators say it appears the fire had smoldered inside the building for quite a while.

For more:  http://www.newson6.com/story/19631479/fire-heavily-damages-popular-okc-pizza-place

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: North Carolina Restaurant Fire Caused By "Outside Neon Lighting Electrical Short"; Extensive Exterior And Smoke Damage

“…the fire started on the half of the building that serves as the dining area…it went inside to the attic space…in addition to a sizable hole in the building’s roof, the building sustained smoke damage; siding closest to the flames melted and peeled down…”

An electrical short associated with the neon lighting attached to the facia of Peaden’s restaurant and catering service building on McArthur Road caused significant damage to half the building on Thursday, fire officials said. When they responded about 5:30 p.m., the building already had been evacuated, and no one was injured.

“When we first arrived, fire was showing from the gable in the front,” Southern said. Firefighters then attacked the fire from the front and back of the building, he said. The 23 firefighters who responded were quick to bring the fire under control in 15 minutes, he said. That quick response spared the rest of the building from further damage. City health officials visited the building and spoke with the business’s owners, who didn’t want to comment Thursday night, and evaluated the damage. Southern could not say whether the business could reopen today.

However, the restaurant side of the building would need “extensive repair” before it could be usable again, he said.

For more:  http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2012/09/20/1205576?sac=fo.home

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Restaurant Rebuilds After Electrical Fire Causes More Than $40,000 In Damage; Insurance Policy Covers Employee Payroll

“…a fire struck the backside of the building. It is still undetermined as to what exactly caused the one-alarm fire, which left approximately $40,000 in electrical damage…thanks to the preservation of its original pits and an insurance policy that has kept their employees on the payroll since the incident… it will feel as if Hutchins BBQ never closed…”

At first, a hopeful Tim believed the restaurant would be up and running in a couple of weeks. But with more planning and red tape to navigate than originally expected, he and his father, Roy, recovering a business from fire entailed much more than he anticipated.

The fire originated in the rear of the building and destroyed its back wall and pit room, which housed two wood-burning rotisserie pits, a trademark of the family namesake.

“It was devastating,,” Roy said. “We’ve put in 14 restaurants since 1975, and this is the first fire we’ve ever had.”

With the damages being more expensive than he originally thought, Tim believes the worst is behind them, and said he and his father are resting easier now that they can see the progress taking shape.

“A lot of times with a lot of restaurants, this could put you under,” Tim said.  “Thankfully, this is something I’ve been able to do.”

The restaurant, which has been at that location since 1991, will look very similar to way it was before the fire, except for a completely new pit room constructed of steel and cement, no wood, Roy said.

For more:  http://www.scntx.com/articles/2012/09/19/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/8971.txt

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Massachusetts Hotel Evacuated After "Generator Room Fire" Causes Hotel To Lose Power

“…The fire caused to hotel to lose power and prompted the chief to order an  evacuation of the hotel…with the loss of the generator and the power out in the hotel, no elevators  or any electrical systems were working at all. without power, smoke alarms and other life safety  systems were not working, necessitating the evacuation…firefighters used  master keys to go room by room, floor by floor…”

The Boston Fire Department responded to a fire Wednesday morning at the  Doubletree Hotel on Soldiers Field Road in Allston for a fire in the generator  room. The generator was on the second floor in the adjacent parking garage. The  fire was contained to the electric panels and diesel fuel. With the help of the building’s staff the Boston Fire Department shut off  the fuel supply.

Firefighters were shifted over to help with evacuation once the fire was  knocked down. One extra engine and ladder were ordered to the scene. The Doubletree Hotel is a 15-story building.

The Boston Fire Department worked with the hotel to relocate the guests. The Boston Fire Chief ordered a building and an electrical inspector to the  scene to check out the generator room where the fire was. The Doubletree Hotel  had an electrical contractor and their building engineer on scene looking at  damage and rerouting power to the hotel.

Read more: http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12008575511876/allston-hotel-evacuated-after-fire-in-generator-room/#ixzz26vOilXwX

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Oregon Hotel Fire Caused By Cigarette Thrown In Bark Dust; $75,000 In Damage To Structure

“…the building’s fire sprinkler system activated in the attic and stopped that fire from spreading to the rest of the hotel…Fire investigators said the fire started in bark dust and they believe the fire had been burning for some time…The fire caused at least $75,000 in damages to the building and its contents…”

A cigarette is to blame for a fire that damaged the side of the Best Western Hotel in Forest Grove on Sunday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the hotel at 3933 Pacific Ave. at about 2:45 p.m. to reports of a fire burning up the side of the building.

When fire crews arrived, they were able to put the fire out, but not before it had spread up the two-story hotel.

Hotel guests had reported smelling smoke earlier in the day, but nothing was ever found.

A hotel housekeeper first spotted the fire and quickly started to evacuate about a dozen guests at the hotel.

Officials said another housekeeper grabbed a fire extinguisher but the fire was already burning inside the wall space. Staff at the hotel are working to find another hotel in the area for displaced guests.

Fire officials said this is one of several fires in bark dust that has occurred over the last week in Washington County.

For more:  http://www.kptv.com/story/19558127/fire-damages-forest-grove-hotel

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Motels "Non-Compliant" For Failing To Install Manual Fire Alarms With Specific Decibel Levels; Cost Of New Systems Estimated At $10,000

“…The problem at each motel was either a lack of manual fire alarms or an insufficiently loud fire alarm…the specific fire code, chapter 4603.6.5.1, specifies that hotels or motels with 20 rooms or more must install manual pull systems with specific decibel levels…the cost of installing fire alarm systems at $10,000-$15,000…”

The city of Columbia charged two motels — The Deluxe Inn and America’s Best Value — on Aug. 30 for failing to install manual fire alarms. They are among seven motels found non-compliant with the international fire code after an inspection last year, said Columbia Fire Marshal Brad Fraizer. The motels were given one year after Aug. 25, 2011, to make the necessary adjustments.

Two of the original establishments cited, Super 7 and Motel 6, have since complied, but the other five are currently in violation of a city ordinance related to fire code non-compliance.

They are misdemeanor violations of two city ordinances (sections 9-21 and 9-22), which also violate Chapter 46 of the International Fire Code. According to City Prosecutor Steven Richey, the other three motels are being reviewed for compliance.

The state then makes a sentence recommendation to the judge, who will apply it based on motel and fire department statements about what they’re doing to comply. The city ordinance violations carry fines of between $1 and $1,000 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment.

The fire department was unable to specify which of the motels in question did not have fire alarms and which simply had alarms without the proper noise level.

“There was a range of violations with some hotels not possessing the systems and others that didn’t have the proper decibel levels,” Fraizer said.

For more: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/09/14/columbia-hotels-lacking-fire-alarms-working-towards-compliance/

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