Golfer Phil Mickelson Evacuated When Lightning Strike Sets Itasca Hotel On Fire
ITASCA, Ill. (CBS/AP) -- A lightning strike was to blame for a fire at a hotel in Itasca, officials said Sunday afternoon.
Numerous golfers and spectators for the BMW Championship at the Medinah Country Club were guests at the hotel at the time, including golfer Phil Mickelson.
The Bloomingdale Fire District said lightning struck the 12th floor of the Eaglewood Resort, at 1401 Nordic Rd. in Itasca Sunday morning.
Lightening hit our hotel (& @PhilMickelson 's) this morning, causing a fire & hotel evacuation before today's @BMWchamps @nbcchicago @WGNNews @cbschicago @GolfChannel pic.twitter.com/60EstApAoK
— Andrea (@ChiAndie) August 18, 2019
The fire was extinguished quickly, but the chimney was destroyed, the fire district said.
The hotel was evacuated for about an hour, the fire district said.
Mickelson tweeted that he was on the top floor and had to rush out of the hotel without his clubs or clothes – with his tee time fast approaching.
How's this for crazy? My hotel was struck by lighting, I was on top floor,we were evacuated and the place is on fire(only thing of mine on fire this week.) I can't get back into my room and may miss my tee time because I am without clubs and clothes.
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 18, 2019
Mickelson eventually got to the course in time to change shoes in the parking lot, but not after a tweet saying that his clubs served as a fire retardant.
EMT's were awesome! I'm going to make it. Turns out my clubs acted as a fire retardant. Lucky me????
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 18, 2019
He headed to the range to warm up, pausing only to answer the phone when his wife called to check on him.
"Yeah, it was kind of a funny deal," said Mickelson. "The building got struck by lightning right above me and blew out a brick chimney and I guess caught fire a little bit. There were 10 fire trucks, so I got in my car and left and couldn't get back. The roads were closed and the hotel was closed, but things cleared up pretty quickly and I was able to get back in and get my stuff and come out and play."
"There were people outside, it's raining and there was no place to go," added Mickelson. "So I got in my car and left and then the roads were closed and I couldn't get back in, but it cleared up pretty quick."
Mickelson was asked about his week as a whole at the BMW Championship, to which he replied "It was electric."
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)