DEARBORN, Mich. – A Dearborn hotel is closed after a fire tore though the building overnight.
Officials said firefighters arrived at the hotel within six minutes of receiving a 911 call that was placed at 1:38 a.m. on Sunday, March 17, by someone staying at the Chatura Hotel. The person said that an air conditioning unit in their second-story room was on fire.
It took 30 firefighters fighting the blaze until it was extinguished at around 3:30 a.m. Firefighters rescued guests from rooms on the second floor who had been trapped by flames and smoke that quickly spread from where the fire started. The fire reached rooms on the third and fourth floors of the four-story hotel.
Officials estimate that around 75 guests were in the hotel when the fire first started. Everyone was safely evacuated. Seven rooms were completely destroyed in the blaze. The hotel has been shut down and the building was deemed unfit for people to stay in due to the excessive smoke and water damage.
“Major fire events like what took place at the Chatura Hotel early this morning are extremely dangerous. We are fortunate to have seen no major injuries among the guests rescued from the building and the firefighters extinguishing the flames. I am grateful for the courageous and prompt actions of our Fire Department and our partners at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, The American Red Cross, and SMART to provide relief to community members and visitors impacted by this emergency situation,” Dearborn Fire Chief Joseph Murray said.
Firefighters treated guests for cuts and minor burns near the hotel. One person was taken to an area hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. No deaths and no serious injuries were reported.
Officials said that around 35 guests were displaced because of the fire. The fire department worked with the Dearborn Parks and Recreation Department and SMART Transit to take the guests to a temporary shelter at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. The American Red Cross is working with the city to help them find more permanent accommodations.
“I commend the more than two dozen Dearborn firefighters; our Emergency Manager, Captain Jim Rodgers; and Fire Chief Joseph Murray who swiftly and expertly responded to the fire emergency at the Chatura Hotel this morning. Although we never hope to be forced to employ emergency operations, I am thankful for the leadership and professionalism of our fire department and the Department of Parks & Recreation who quickly and seamlessly coordinated shelter and relief to those displaced by the fire,” Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud said.