Caught On Tape: Extended Stay Hotel Fire Has Guests Fleeing For Their Lives
LA HABRA (CBS) — Fire ripped through an extended stay hotel in La Habra Sunday afternoon forcing guests to flee for their lives.
And the frightening fire was caught on cell phone video.
The fire occurred about 3:30 p.m. at the Sunset Inn on South Beach Boulevard just north of Imperial Highway.
Edward Lawrence, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, said three people had to be rescued from the third floor by Los Angeles County Firefighters.
The three people were reportedly overcome by smoke and had to be treated for smoke inhalation.
A total of 50 people have been displaced.
After putting out the stubbon blaze, firefighters spent hours looking for potential hotspots.
Witness Courtney Reyes says, at first, no one believed the fire posed any danger. "We didn't really smell it until we started coming out. But the alarm went off."
Officials say there were no serious injuries.
Police responded to the scene quickly and were able to knock on doors to get lower-floor residents out quickly. The first officer in, reportedly suffered some minor smoke inhalation. Lawrence reports that the officer refused treatment.
Battalion chief Scott Fellhoelter said the third-story rescues were textbook. "They threw ladders up to the third floor and affected three rescues."
Still, smoke posed a problem. "This is where the heaviest smoke was," says Fellhoelter, showing Lawrence the third floor. "Firefighters were on their hands and knees before they were able to access the room of origin."
Window rescues were necessary because the hotel guests made the mistake of opening their front doors. "You can see they left their doors open. And the rooms have a moderate amount of smoke damage. Smoke was rolling over their heads and they were waving white flags and white pieces of clothing."
The hotel had to be red-tagged but not before residents were escorted back inside... and they had five minutes to gather up everything they will need for at least the next four days.
Jackie Vasquez said, "You just get what you need. And it's pitch black in there my mom said."
For resident Courtney Reyes, "the timing of the fire sucks." She had just gone food shopping.
The 50 displaced residents have been sent to another hotel.
Lawrence says investigators have deemed the fire "accidental" in nature. The room where the fire began was vacant. The previous tenant left a hot plate on.
