An automatic fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in a downtown hotel late Tuesday night. Fire investigators ruled that careless smoking was the cause of the accidental fire. One occupant of the room was taken to the hospital for minor burns to the hands and feet.
Firefighters were dispatched to the Conrad Hotel at 128 S. Seventh St. at 9:28 p.m. Tuesday. When firefighters arrived, smoke was showing from the second floor of the two-story hotel. Most of the occupants of the hotel had already evacuated.
When firefighters entered the room where the fire started they found a stuffed chair smoldering. Damage was confined to the chair and room, and was estimated at $500.
The occupant told investigators he was sitting in the chair smoking a cigarette and fell asleep. The chair then caught fire and he quickly left and got a fire extinguisher to try and put the fire out. In the process the automatic fire sprinkler activated and doused the fire. The occupant was taken to UMC for minor burns to his hands and feet.
There was no damage to any of the other rooms.
