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Sprinklers quickly put out hotel fire in Mo.

The fire appeared to have started around a wall-mounted air conditioner/furnace unit

The Columbia Daily Tribune

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Guests at a Columbia hotel were evacuated yesterday evening when a fire in one of the rooms set off the hotel’s alarm and sprinkler system.

Firefighters responded to the Holiday Inn Select at 2200 I-70 Drive S.W. at 6:50 p.m. when the alarm system was activated, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release. A hotel employee reported a fire in unoccupied Room 633 and smoke on the sixth floor. The fire was put out by the time fire crews arrived because two sprinkler heads in the room had activated.

About $2,000 in damage was estimated, Battalion Chief Steve Sapp said.

The fire appeared to have started around a wall-mounted air conditioner/furnace unit. What caused the unit to burst into flames remained unknown this morning, Sapp said. Investigators were going to re-examine the equipment today in hope of determining a cause, but Sapp said he expected that conclusion would not be reached until the hotel brings in an engineer familiar with the equipment.

Guests were able to return to their rooms shortly after the incident.

“We helped them mop up water from the carpet and beddings, but you can’t un-burn burnt,” Sapp said. “Because of those sprinklers, everyone was able to return to their room.”

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