28-Year-Old Man Pulled From Burning Motel Room In Lakeland

LAKELAND, FL — A 28-year-old man who made threats to harm himself was listed in stable condition Sunday after being pulled from a burning hotel room.

Patrick Williams was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital late Saturday after being found unresponsive at the Best Motel shortly before 10 p.m. The motel is located at 601 East Memorial Blvd. in Lakeland.

"Once on scene, officers found the room was on fire and full of smoke," Robin Tillett of the Lakeland Police Department said. "According to a witness, Williams had made threats to harm himself, and it is believed he intentionally set the room on fire."

Tillett said Williams was taken out of the hotel room by first responders from the Lakeland Fire Department.

"Officers immediately began attempting to extinguish the fire as the Lakeland Fire Department was arriving on the scene," Tillett said.

Guests in nearby rooms also had to be evacuated from the motel. They were relocated to other rooms in the motel. No other motel guests were injured in the fire.

"Officers who made entry into the room were later evaluated for possible smoke inhalation at Lakeland Regional Health," Tillett said. "The state fire investigator responded to the scene to complete the fire investigation."