A grease fire in a hotel's kitchen spread flames and smoke into the building's duct work, prompting a two-hour evacuation of 408 guests and 60 employees, a fire official said Monday.

The fire happened about 8:30 p.m. Sunday while employees cooked on a gas grill of the Millennium Hotel's first-floor restaurant, district fire chief Dave Collini said.

The fire was an accident and no one was hurt during the evacuation, he said.

Some people wrapped themselves in blankets or tablecloths to stay warm while outside the downtown hotel. Others sought shelter in either a nearby restaurant or the city's convention center.

The hotel was reopened about 10:30 p.m. No guest rooms were damaged, Collini said.

Hotel fire damage is $300K
Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Damage was estimated at $300,000 in a grease fire Sunday night in the kitchen of the downtown Millennium Hotel.

The blaze forced the evacuation of about 400 guests. The fire extended into the hotel's ductwork, and it took firefighters about 90 minutes to put it out.

A few people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but no serious injuries were reported.

South Memphis Hotel Fire

Last Update: 11/17/2006 9:21:52 AM

Just before three o'clock in the morning on Friday, November 17, 2006, Memphis firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at the Airport Inn on East Brooks Road in South Memphis.
Firefighters say a room on the fourth floor caught fire and smoke filled the halls of the building. Hotel management and fire crews evacuated all four floors of the building.

The fire started in room 407. Hotel security says the room was booked, but the man was not inside the room at the time of the fire.

A fire chief tells Eyewitness News it appears the fire began on a mattress. The officer says a cigarette may have ignited the flame.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to one room. Officers say the fire was raised to a two-alarm to secure extra manpower to evacuate the upper level floors.

A hotel manager says no one was hurt during Friday morning's fire.

Overnight motel fire forces guests from their rooms

Nov 23, 2006 01:12 PM

Smoke could be seen pouring from the window of one of the motel's rooms.
Guests were forced from their rooms as firefighters contained the blaze.
Nearly 80 emergency officials responded to the scene.
A two-alarm fire sent motel guests at the Airport Inn on Brooks Road out into the streets early Friday morning.

Nearly 80 firefighters were called to the scene of the fire, which started just before 2:30am. Emergency crews worked quickly to make sure everyone staying at the motel, which was nearly full, got out safely.

Emergency officials said the fire started on a mattress, and was contained to one room. Chuck Reinhardt, who was staying at the motel, said the heavy smoke made for a scary sight. "I smelled smoke," he said. "When I opened the door, smoke hit me in the face. It was bad."

Officials said the hotels concrete construction helped contain the fire.

The motel is popular among truckers, and many said they hoped to get back to their rooms to rest before they had to get back on the road.

While officials are still searching for the person who was staying in the burned room, no injuries were reported in the blaze. Witnesses said the occupant of the burned room may have been intoxicated.

The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.