STACY MILLBERG
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP - - Firefighters responded to a small fire at the Holiday Inn Express at Route 45 and Interstate 90 Wednesday afternoon.
Saybrook Township Fire Chief William Kaiser said the fire was confined to the ceiling area of a restroom off the pool. The sprinkler alarm was sounding when firefighters arrived at 5:16 p.m., and the building was evacuated prior to their arrival.
They responded to the fire with two engines, a rescue squad and nine personnel. Mutual aid was provided by the Austinburg Township and Geneva fire departments, he said.
"The fire was brought under control by the sprinkler system," Kaiser said. "We conducted our investigation, mopped up and shut down the sprinkler system."
The pool area of the motel was shut down Wednesday night so that hotel personnel could clean the area.
Mickey Whaley, Holiday Inn Express' director of operations, said the pool and Jacuzzi were both up and running on Thursday. The only area that remained closed was the restroom.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the state fire marshal's Office has been called in to assist in the investigation, Kaiser said.
Whaley said the estimate of damages is still not complete but that the fire was small.
"Thank goodness for sprinkler systems, or we could have really had a problem," Kaiser said.
