100 People Evacuated After Hotel Fire In North Haven: Officials

NORTH HAVEN, CT — Around 100 people were evacuated after a hotel fire Sunday morning in North Haven, according to fire officials.

One person was taken to the hospital with injuries that officials said weren’t life-threatening.

Crews responded around 9 a.m. on June 30 to a report of a fire in the laundry room at a hotel on Washington Avenue. An evacuation was in progress when crews arrived and smoke was visible from the back of the building, according to officials.

“Engine 1 investigated and found active fire in the dryer system and a heavy smoke condition throughout the structure,” officials wrote in a post on the North Haven Fire Department’s Facebook page. “Volunteers from Co#4 went enroute to the call at 9:09 AM and arrived 1 minute later and secured a water supply form the hydrant. An additional ladder truck from Co#4 was also called to the scene to assist.

“Car 3 assumed command from E1 and continued to overhaul the fire area, complete a search of the building to remove occupants and clear smoke /carbon monoxide from the interior. “

Officials said approximately 100 people were evacuated from the building for about two hours as smoke was cleared from the building and meter readings taken.

One person was injured and taken to the hospital by ambulance with injuries officials said weren’t life-threatening. No firefighters were injured, according to officials.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the North Haven Fire Marshal's office.

“Due to the size of the building and extent of smoke spread, units remained on scene for approximately 2 hours to ventilate the building and reoccupy the rooms,” officials wrote. “Additional emergency calls (medical) were reported during this time and fire units were delayed in response to those calls.”

The last fire unit cleared the scene at 10:53 a.m., according to officials.

“In regard to hotel fire safety, the North Haven Fire Department reminds everyone to identify the shortest way out of a hotel room while traveling, avoid using elevators during an alarm as they may get filled with smoke and stop, and to quickly evacuate your room whenever the fire alarm sounds,” officials wrote. “Also, do NOT re-enter buildings to find lost pets and follow instructions from the Fire Department.”