Tag Archives: Evacuation

by | September 24, 2013 · 5:46 am

Hospitality Industry HazMat Risks: South Carolina Hotel Guests Evacuated, Hospitalized After Exposure To Pool Chemical Fumes; Employee Accidently Mixes Muriatic Acid And Chlorine

“…The area where the chemicals were mixed (was) isolated…one of the two chemicals was muriatic acid (and) the other chemical was Hotel Pool Chemical HazMat Riskschlorine (that) were mixed by an employee of the hotel by accident, creating the strong fumes that affected the employees and guests…One of the 12 transported by EMS was an employee of the hotel, but the other eleven were guests. An additional six people were treated at the hotel, but did not require further medical attention…”

The overnight nursing supervisor at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center confirmed all 14 patients who were being Hazardous Materials Teamtreated for respiratory issues following an accidental chemical mixture have been discharged from the hospital. Bob Derr, a Battalion Chief with the City of Myrtle Beach Fire Department confirmed the Hazmat situation was reported after two chemicals were mixed together in the pool maintenance area under the hotel the Landmark Resort at 1501 South Ocean Boulevard, affecting both guests and employees.

Twelve people have been taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center by EMS, and two more drove themselves. All 14 were presenting respiratory issues. Battalion Chief Derr suggested more guests could be transported if they started to show signs of respiratory distress.

Crews did not evacuate the hotel completely. The lower floors were cleared as a precaution.

For more:  http://www.wistv.com/story/23509101/crews-respond-to

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by | September 19, 2013 · 6:19 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Missouri Motel Evacuated After “Meth Lab” Discovered In Room; Suspect Was “Cutting Up Batteries” Outside Door

“…on the second-floor of the motel, the officer saw a man sitting outside his hotel room cutting up batteries…the officer asked him what he was Hotel Meth Lab Risksdoing and, at the same time, noticed the door ajar and some fumes or vapors coming out of the door…(he) pushed the door open and a larger cloud of vapors came out…the man cutting the batteries had been cooking methamphetamine in his room, police say…”

A motel guest cutting up batteries outside his room stirred the suspicions of a Sunset Hills police officer, who uncovered a meth lab at the EconoLodge early today.

The officer, overcome by fumes, was taken to a hospital after complaining of being lightheaded. And all of the remaining motel guests in the entire east wing of the motel were evacuated by police and firefighters for about three hours early Thursday until the mobile meth lab was removed.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of drug manufacturing. “He was apparently trying to do this with the shake-and-bake method,” LeGrand said, referring to the mobile method of making the drug. “But he forgot some ingredient and, because of that, he decided to heat some of this mixture in the microwave.”

The guests who were evacauted from the hotel after midnight were allowed to return to their rooms at about 3 a.m. after the county’s drug unit removed the materials.

For more:  http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/meth-fumes-force-evacuation-of-sunset-hills-motel-police-officer/article_050e5fce-4812-5a5a-b6cd-3bbe86afe68b.html

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by | June 19, 2013 · 1:35 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Pennsylvania Hotel Employee Injured And Property Evacuated When Pool Chlorine Tablet Feeder Explodes

“…the hotel’s general manager says an employee suffered minor injuries when the equipment that feeds chlorine tablets to the pool exploded. He Hotel Pool Chemical Riskswas taken to a hospital…The hotel was evacuated when fire crews got on scene, including about 10 guest rooms and 15 employees…”

An explosion at a hotel in Clinton County forced some guests from their rooms Tuesday morning. It happened around 9:30 a.m. at the Comfort Inn near Lamar. The building was evacuated as a precaution and fans were used to air out the hotel. By 11 a.m., business was back to normal.

Emergency officials say chlorine can be deadly but in this instance, the chlorine tablets are commonly used for swimming pools and don’t pose serious risks.

For more:  http://wnep.com/2013/06/18/hotel-cleared-out-after-chlorine-incident/

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by | January 31, 2013 · 7:43 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: California Hotel Explosion And Fire Caused By “Illicit Drug-Making Operation” In Guest Room; Walls “Blown Out” And Property Evacuated

“…all guests were evacuated and it took firefighters about 35 minutes to fully contain the flames which had reached into the third story and the attic of the hotel…Because of the drug-making substances that had caused Hotel Explosionthe hotel explosion, a hazardous-materials crew and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration were called in to investigate the illegal drug-making operation…”

An apparent drug-making operation in a hotel room caused a hotel explosion in San Diego on Wednesday shortly after 11 a.m. The explosion which happened in one of the hotel rooms blew out several windows and three walls, reported San Diego’s 10News on Jan. 30, 2013.

“An explosion apparently caused by an illicit drug-making process blew out walls and windows at a Midway-area hotel Wednesday and set part of it ablaze, leaving a young man gravely burned and two other people less severely hurt, authorities reported.”

The hotel explosion occurred in a hotel guest room on the second floor at the three-story Heritage Inn on Channel Way, just south of San Diego’s Interstate 8.

The man who was gravely injured during the hotel explosion had apparently lit a cigarette while using a butane spray can to try to extract hashish oil from marijuana. The flame from his lighter ignited the chemical fumes and caused them to detonate powerfully. The man who is in his early 20s suffered life-threatening burns.

Hash oil is made by packing finely ground stems and leaves of marijuana plants in a pipe and pouring butane through it. The liquid typically is then cooked on a stove to separate the butane. Hash oil averages about 15 percent THC, the chief intoxicant in marijuana. A drop or two is about as potent as a marijuana cigarette.

For more:  http://www.examiner.com/article/illegal-drug-making-hotel-room-causes-hotel-explosion-san-diego

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by | January 15, 2013 · 7:48 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: California Hotel Faces “Negligence Lawsuit” Over Carbon Monoxide Leak From Hotel Pool Boiler

“…(the plaintiff) was a guest at the time of the evacuation, which was believed to be caused by a boiler leak…claims the hotel was not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors resulted in exposing paying guests to hotel Carbon Monoxide Poisoninghazardous levels of the gas… he’s claiming negligence and requesting the hotel cover costs of general damages, medical bills, potential loss of revenue and legal fees…”

A carbon monoxide leak that prompted the evacuation of the Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport hotel in Burlingame in November prompted a lawsuit from a guest who was staying at the hotel. On Friday, a lawsuit was filed against the hotel on behalf of Robert and Diane McNamara by San Francisco-based attorney Richard Schoenberger.

Firefighters were called to the hotel at 150 Anza Blvd. to test its air quality and evacuate guests around 1 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, according to news reports at the time.

The carbon monoxide was traced to a boiler that feeds the hotel pool and a spa, Central County Fire Chief Don Dornell said at the time. The unit was immediately shut down, and carbon monoxide levels dissipated, he said. At the time, it was reported that there were no injuries nor was treatment required of anyone. Guests were able to return to their rooms shortly after 5 a.m. Crews remained at the hotel monitoring the air throughout the morning.

For more:  http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=1761499&title=Carbon%20monoxide%20leak%20at%20hotel%20sparks%20lawsuit

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by | January 10, 2013 · 9:29 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Pennsylvania Hotel “Fire Alarm System” Fails During Basement Fire; Over 70 Guests Evacuated After Electrical Panel Circuit Found “Dead”

“…the hotel had a small fire in its basement over the weekend, and the fire alarms did not go off…(it was) found that the hotel’s electrical panel that controls the fire alarms was dead and the alarms didn’t work…the fire alarms for hotelshotel’s general manager said they had to evacuate more than 70 guests Tuesday, and they’ve been working since then to replace the fire alarm system..”

A hotel in a Scranton shut down Tuesday night because of a problem with its fire alarm system. It turns out, that hotel may have been without fire protection for weeks, maybe even months.

Scranton firefighters received a tip call from a former employee of the Clarion Hotel in Scranton. That call unraveled what could have been a big problem for the hotel and city officials.

The city’s director of inspections and permits, Mark Seitzinger went with firefighters to check out the tip calls claim.

“It’s dangerous, as of the other day they had 75 occupants or patrons of the building, that’s 75 people not including employees that are at risk because there’s no fire system,” said Seitzinger.

On the city’s advice, hotel managers made the call to evacuate all of those 75 guests and sent them to nearby hotels. Among the displaced were realtors who were supposed to have a certification class at the Clarion, but they had to change their plans and move to another venue in Clarks Summit.

For more:  http://wnep.com/2013/01/09/hotel-replaces-faulty-fire-alarms-following-small-fire/

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by | January 6, 2013 · 7:06 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Louisiana Hotel Laundry Room Fire Causes “Heavy Water Damage” And Forces Evacuation Of Entire Building

“…The fire was found to have originated in a laundry room on the fourth floor of the hotel. The third and fourth floors sustained heavy water damage, as the sprinkler system helped to squelch the blaze…(additional Hotel fire and smoke damagefirefighters were needed) to assist with getting materials that were burned and water-damaged out of the building…”

A Saturday night fire at the CBD’s Hotel Intercontinental (444 St. Charles Ave.) damaged the middle floors of the 14-story structure, and moved guests to a nearby ballroom, according to the New Orleans Fire Department.

Firefighters went door-to-door at the 410 rooms to ensure that all guests evacuated the building. Initially, the fire was at two alarms, but the third and fourth alarms were struck to provide more manpower. A total of 31 trucks and 98 NOFD personnel were at the scene.

The fire was largely contained to the area where the fire originated, but smoke damage was reported on the floors above the fourth.

The fire was under control by 7:30 p.m. The only reports of injury in the blaze were from a guest who told authorities they were having trouble breathing. The guest refused medical assistance. The displaced guests were relocated to the second-floor ballroom in the Hilton New Orleans, which is located across St. Charles Ave.

For more:  http://noladefender.com/content/four-ala76rm-fire-dam98ages-st-charles-ave-hotel

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by | December 2, 2012 · 7:15 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Hotel "Stairwell Fire" Forces Evacuation Of Nearly 400 Guests; Building Remains Without Power

“…Dallas Fire Rescue said the fire happened in the south stairwell on the third floor…electricity was shut off Hotel fire and smoke damageand the hotel remains without power…”

Hotel management said 387 people were listed as guests at the time of the fire and everyone evacuated.

A Downtown Dallas hotel fire caused the evacuation of nearly 400 guests on Saturday afternoon.

One person was taken to the hospital for further evaluation of possible burns.  Their name and condition have not been released. Paramedics treated some other people on scene for non-life threatening issues.

As of 5:30 p.m., the fire is extinguished but electricity has been shut off to the hotel.

Management is now allowing all guests to gather their belongings and transfer to another local hotel. Investigators are searching for the hotel fire’s cause.

For more:  http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Hundreds-Evacuated-In-Downtown-Dallas-Hotel-Fire-181695311.html

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by | November 16, 2012 · 7:12 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Data Reveals Few U.S. Hotels Have "Carbon Monoxide Alarms" Installed; 30 Incidents Of Elevated CO Levels Has Led To Evacuations And 8 Deaths

“…Few of the roughly 4.9 million rooms in 51,214 lodging properties with at least 15 rooms have (carbon monoxide) alarms…From 2010 through Nov. 8, 2102, there were 30 incidents of fire departments or government officials finding elevated levels of CO at U.S. hotels…in the 30 incidents, more than 1,300 people were evacuated, eight died, and at least 170 were affected by CO, treated by medical personnel or hospitalized…”

Neil Hampson was inside his room at a lodge in Alaska during a salmon fishing vacation three years ago when his carbon monoxide alarm sounded. Hampson, a Seattle doctor and expert on carbon monoxide, went to the basement and found the CO level four times higher. He says he turned off the gas for the water heater, and CO levels throughout the building “dropped precipitously.”

A plumber later found that the water heater was improperly vented, he says, and the lodge owner installed CO alarms in each sleeping room. Guests and staff at the lodge near Alaska’s Kenai River were fortunate Hampson carries an alarm which detects the odorless, colorless poison gas that can cause brain damage or be lethal.

Only a handful of state or municipal laws require them, although more than 1,300 people were evacuated nationally from hotels because of high CO levels in recent years.

CO, often called “the silent killer,” is such a threat that the National Fire Protection Association says CO alarms should be near bedrooms in every home.

For more:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2012/11/15/hotels-carbon-monoxide-alarms/1707863/

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by | November 8, 2012 · 11:50 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: California Hotel Evacuated As "Carbon Monoxide" Gases From Malfunctioning Boiler Force Ventilation Of Building

A carbon monoxide alarm forced hundreds of guests out of their hotel rooms overnight at the Embassy Suites in Burlingame, near San Francisco International Airport. The hotel’s emergency alarms started sounding around 1 a.m. Thursday morning.

Ralph Gallegos said he didn’t think much of it at first.”At first I thought someone had tripped the alarm,” he said. “About 15 minutes later the police department came on and said we had to evacuate the building.”

“I got out of bed thinking it was a prank and started looking around for some hoodlums so I could give ’em some grief,” said Jim Heller. “Then I looked out the window and saw first responders waving their flashlights at us, so I decided to evacuate.”

Between 400 and 500 people could be seen wrapped in blankets and curled up on benches outside the hotel, trying to get some sleep as emergency crews went in to test for carbon monoxide.

Investigators traced the poisonous gas to a malfunctioning boiler. Fire crews opened windows and doors in most of the hotel rooms to ventilate the building.

For more:  http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/Hotel-Evacuated-for-Carbon-Monoxide-Gas-177864481.html

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