By City of Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — On 9/6/2024 at 12:17 p.m. the Hutchinson Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a commercial building fire at the Hampton Inn, 1401 1⁄2 E. 11th Avenue.
Initial arriving crews found smoke coming from the east side of the building and upon making entry they were met with a moderate amount of smoke throughout the first floor. Staff and occupants had self-evacuated when the fire alarm system activated, HFD crews conducted a search of all floors to ensure that all occupants had exited to safety. Interior crews found a smoldering fire in an exterior wall that had progressed upwards but did not affect the floors above. On scene crews worked from the exterior and interior to overhaul and expose any extension and ensured that involved materials were extinguished. Fire damage was contained to two (2) first floor hotel rooms with heat, smoke and water damage noted throughout the first floor.
Fire investigators on scene worked quickly to determine the cause of the fire and found that improper burning of weeds for vegetation control led to the extension of fire into the building.
HFD would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance- Hutchinson/Reno County Emergency Communications, Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County EMS, Evergy and Kansas Gas
