Marriott hotel evacuated after electrical fire

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - An electrical malfunction forced several occupants of the Fort Wayne Marriott to evacuate after a fire broke out in a second floor room.

Fort Wayne firefighters were called to the hotel on East Washington Center Road just after 11:30 Monday night.

According to Fort Wayne Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Pinkham, the fire was confined to a second floor room on the hotel's west side.

Pinkham said the building's sprinkler system put the fire out, saving a large portion of the building from catching fire.

Pinkham said investigators discovered an electrical malfunction in the room's heating unit.

Fire officials and hotel management didn't know how many occupants were in that wing of the building, but 12 to 14 rooms were occupied.

No one was inside the room where the fire started.

Heavy smoke filled the entire wing on the second floor. Fire alarms sent most occupants outside into frigid temperatures. Pinkham said officers with the Fort Wayne Police Department helped evacuate several occupants while fire crews were arriving.

No injuries were reported.

Displaced occupants were assigned to different rooms away from the wing where the fire started. Investigators will inspect the room and hotel later Tuesday.

The incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Fire Department.