In 1968, a modern seventeen-story motor hotel, constructed of fire–restrictive construction, was completed and opened for business. The first story consisted of various occupancies, including the hotel lobby, an automobile dealership, offices, and the ramp to for the parking garage. The next six floors served as the parking garage. On the remaining ten stories, there existed thirty guestrooms. On the fateful night, July 23, 1971, 251 of the 300 rooms provided accommodations for 408 people. On each floor, there were two manual pull stations for the local evacuation alarm; these pull stations activated all of the alarms throughout the building.

The occupants staying in a room on the twelfth floor checked out of the hotel and left the premises. Some time later, according to the NFPA study (1977), other occupants residing on the floor detected the smell of smoke, alerting the front desk. Within the vacated room, a fire was discovered. Guests were evacuated from the floor by two building guards. Smoke and heat from the fire forced on guard to leave the floor after only two elevator loads of people had been evacuated from the floor. Unfortunately, he was unable to find the other guard prior to his departure.

Arriving on the scene after being contacted by the guests staying in a nearby room, the fire fighters, seeing flames bursting out of the twelfth story, quickly called for additional assistance. Aerial ladders could not be used effectively due to the shape of the building and the limited access to one side. The fire fighters were unable to utilize the elevators, as they were not functioning properly, prohibiting them from easily accessing the fire floor. Those that climbed the stairs with their equipment found the doors to the floor to be locked. Within the elevator lobby, the bodies of a doctor, his wife, and their two small children were found. Partially within the elevator, a woman, who later died, was found with her son, who survived.

This case–study indicates, according to NPFA FR77–1, that a fire–resistive building is not necessarily a fire safe building. As a result of this fire, the New Orleans Fire Department requires all hotels to inspect and secure rooms prior to guests checking