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
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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
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