Cedar Rapids Hotel Evacuated After Dryer Fire

By Jeff Raasch

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By Richard Pratt

Story Created: Feb 25, 2010 at 7:51 AM CST

Story Updated: Feb 25, 2010 at 11:48 AM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - A sprinkler doused a fire at a hotel before it caused much damage early Thursday morning, officials said.

Firefighters were called to Econo Lodge, 622 33rd Ave. SW, at 2:14 a.m. for smoke coming out of a hallway. The first crew to arrive at the 50-room hotel found smoke and a small fire still burning inside a commercial dryer in the utility room. They used portable fire extinguishers to put out the fire.

Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said one sprinkler head activated and was applying water, which helped control the fire. The room sustained some smoke and water damage, he said.

Guests in 23 hotel rooms were evacuated for about 30 minutes, Buelow said. No one was injured.

Investigators determined the fire started in the dryer, Buelow said.

“It must have been the wiring or something,” maintenance employee Amish Patel said. “It wasn’t the lint trap, because that’s the first thing I checked, and it was cleaned out. It could have been a lot worse.”

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