Fire Chief issues report on hotel structure fire

Fernandina Beach Fire/Rescue
Submitted by Ty Silcox, Chief
June 10, 2018 3:45 p.m.

Firefighters finish their work after fire breaks out in hotel. A Fernandina Observer photo.

On Sunday, June 10, 2018 at 10:45 A.M., the Fernandina Beach Fire Department along with Nassau County Fire Rescue Department was dispatched to the report of a fire in a guest room located on the second floor of Amelia Hotel and Suites. A 911 call to the Nassau County Dispatch Center, and an alarm for the hotel’s alarm system alerted firefighters to the fire.

Upon arrival firefighters found the hotel being evacuated. Firefighters made their way to the second floor and found that the automatic sprinkler system had been activated. Upon entering the room, firefighters found heavy black smoke and located a small fire on the floor involving the bed. While firefighters were controlling the fire, additional fire units went door to door making sure all guest were evacuated safely from their rooms. It took firefighters approximately fifteen minutes with the assistance of the fire sprinkler system to knock down the fire. Firefighters completed overhaul of the room and structure within one hour of the initial call to 911. The building was ventilated and secured for investigation.

The structure received minimal fire related damage, but sustained water damage from the sprinkler system activation. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported because of this fire. The cause of the fire is suspicious in nature and is being investigated by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office in conjunction with the City Fire Marshal and Fernandina Beach Police Department.