By Mike Prager
The Spokane Spokesman-Review
SPOKANE, Wash. — The owner of the Liberty Motel, 6801 N. Division St., armed himself with two fire extinguishers Tuesday morning and attacked a blaze inside one of his motel buildings.
He wanted to make sure that all of the guests had gotten out safely in the intense 6 a.m. fire.
A woman staying in the room where the fire started had already escaped, but in the confusion, owner Seung Na attacked the flames to make sure guests in two other rooms were safe, according to his daughter, Jennifer Na.
Seung Na suffered first- and second-degree burns and was taken to Providence Holy Family Hospital for emergency treatment. He returned to the motel by midmorning.
“He went in to make sure everyone got out,” Jennifer Na said.
Spokane firefighters arrived just after 6 a.m. and stopped the blaze from consuming the five-unit, single-story building at the front of the motel complex.
The fire appeared to be centered in one unit but spread above ceilings to other units. Firefighters cut a hole in the roof over a second unit to ventilate hot smoke and gas as part of their standard attack.
Smoke damage was evident in the adjacent units.
Damage was estimated at $70,000.
Southbound traffic on North Division was blocked for more than an hour; a single lane was opened about 7:30 a.m.
A fire investigator was on the scene at midmorning sifting through steaming rubble.
A cause had yet to be determined by Tuesday afternoon.
Other parts of the motel remained open.
No other injuries were reported.
The Na family bought the motel more than three years ago, Jennifer Na said.
Spokane County property records show that the buildings were erected in 1949 through 1952.
The quaint, well-kept property rents rooms for as low as $45 a night.
“It’s homey,” Jennifer Na said.
Copyright 2011 Spokane Spokesman-Review