White Elk Motel Fire Under Investigation

Police said they were investigating whether the  that burned a second-story unit on Dec. 26 was connected to a trespassing complaint at the establishment.

, fire officials said an unidentified person placed a 911 call reporting the blaze, which ultimately resulted in a response by 60 firefighters and forced the shutdown of Washington Boulevard for three hours. No one was injured, said officials.

Police were already at the motel when the fire broke out.

“Officers were on scene investigating a trespassing call when they noticed smoke coming from one of the units,” said Elizabeth Schroen, spokeswoman for the Howard County Police Department, in a phone interview.

Police reported the fire while responding to the trespassing complaint that resulted in an arrest.

“There was a person who was not permitted to be on the motel property,” said Schroen. “They assaulted someone at the motel.”

The person was arrested on second-degree assault charges, said Schroen, who would not release the person's identity.

Schroen said that “it’s unclear” if the trespassing incident was related to the fire.

“That’s what is under investigation right now,” said Schroen. “Police are still investigating the cause and origin of the fire.”

A hotel spokesperson said the cost of damage to the hotel was unknown.

No cause of the fire has been determined. The remains open for business.