Official: CCTV hotel fire caused by fireworks


2009-02-10
BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The blaze that caused one death and seven injuries at a hotel within the new China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters complex in Beijing Monday night was caused by fireworks, the city's fire control authorities said Tuesday.

CCTV hired staff from a fireworks company to ignite several hundred large festive firecrackers in an open space outside the nearly-completed Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which is part of the iconic CCTV tower complex, said Luo Yuan, spokesman and deputy chief of Beijing Fire Control Bureau.

The people who ignited the fireworks are being questioned by police, he said at a press conference late Tuesday morning without giving details.

Four camcorders recorded the fireworks display and the entire ignition process, Luo said.

He said these fireworks were much more powerful and explosive than what was available at roadside stalls during the Spring Festival and therefore needed approval from the municipal government before being allowed in the downtown areas.

"Owners of the property ignored policemen's warnings that such fireworks were not allowed," Luo said. He said investigation is continuing.

Fire broke out at the 30-storey building at 8:27 p.m. Monday and was put out at 2 a.m.

A 30-year-old fireman died from respiratory tract injuries at hospital early Tuesday. Beijing Fire Control Bureau said seven others were injured, including six firemen and one construction worker.

Garbage can fire causes evacuation of South Austin hotel
January 24, 2009,

The Omni Hotel in South Austin was evacuated for about 30 minutes this morning after improperly discarded smoking materials started a small fire in a guest room garbage can, according to the Austin Fire Department.

Battalion Chief Greg Nye said that nobody was seriously injured in 8:30 a.m. fire, which was extinguished before firefighters arrived.

“We did have one or two people on scene that were assessed by EMS for possible light smoke inhalation but they refused transport,” to a hospital, he said.

The fire started in a room on the third floor of the 14-story hotel, which is at 4140 Governor’s Row, southeast of the intersection of Interstate 35 and Ben White Boulevard.

Fire Breaks Out At Doral Marriott Residence Inn

Jan 19, 2009

DORAL

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the Marriott Residence Inn located at 1212 NW 82 Avenue to find smoke and flames coming from the top of an exterior stairwell of the three story building.

Firefighters were concerned that the windy conditions would make for rapid spread of the fire, but because they had an aggressive response the fire was contained. No injuries were reported.

A total of 12 MDFR units and 30 firefighter/paramedics responded to this incident and declared it under control within 20 minutes.

A total of six hotel rooms remained evacuated because of how close they are to the damaged stairwell. Building inspectors will determine how safe the stairs are as well as that section of the hotel.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.