Hotel Fire Investigation Continues

The Zanesville Fire Department continues its investigation into a fire at the Fairfield Inn.

Fire crews responded to the call just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. A passerby reported smoke coming from the roof of the Fairfield Inn at 725 Zane Street. We spoke with Fire Chief Eric Waltemire. He explained what they found when they began their investigation and how they were able to save the integrity of the roof structure.

“It was a ground level fire then on the end of the building there was a soffit and that fire traveled up that soffit and into the roof, into the attic space of the building and that’s where the fire was at,” said Waltemire.

“We could see that the fire was in attic when we got there. Thankfully it was adequately stopped in the attic so it was compartmentalized at that point but it had burned through the roof but we were able to contain it pretty quick. We did cut an inspection hole east of that. It was on the other side of the fire wall to check for extension and the only thing in that space was smoke. ”

This is the second fire at the hotel this year. The first occurred in February. Waltemire said he believes the same cause could be to blame for yesterday’s incident.

“At that point it was smoking materials in mulch that started the fire and we’re suspecting it was smoking materials in the mulch again,” said Waltemire.

The hotel was evacuated at the time of first response and it remains empty as the fire department continues their investigation and reconstruction begins.