Firefighters Douse Early Morning Blaze at Hotel

A man was hospitalized after an early morning fire Monday at hotel.

Mentor firefighters were called to the hotel at 5:15 a.m. because of a fire in Room 102, Battalion Chief Joe Busher said.

Firefighters saw smoke rising from the roof when they arrived. The room where the fire started was gutted by the flames, but firefighters were able to douse the fire before it spread to the rest of the hotel, Busher said.

Busher said it only took five minutes to squelch the fire once they arrived.

Two people that were in the room when the fire started drove themselves to Euclid Hospital. One man had serious burns to his hands and arms, Busher said.

Doctors recommended the man go to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, but Busher did not know if he went.

Mentor firefighters are still investigating to see how the fire started, but they think it began by accident, Busher said.

Busher estimated that the fire caused about $40,000 worth of damage.