Reagan Wheeler

JOU3109C: Multimedia Writing

Module 3 Assignment: Write a Hard-News Story
June 1, 2019

Grease fire causes entire hotel to be evacuated

A grease fire that occurred in a hotel room Saturday forced guests staying at a local

Extended Stay America hotel to evacuate.

Gainesville Fire Rescue Department responded to a call from a guest at the hotel on

Tuesday regarding the fire.

Hotel guest Chelsea Fenton was frying plantains on the stove in her hotel room at the

Extended Stay America on 3600 SW 42nd Street. When the grease splashed on her hand, Fenton

knocked the pan of hot oil onto the carpet floor of the hotel room, according to Peggy Cabrera

spokeswoman of the Gainesville Fire Rescue Department.

Responders received the call from Fenton at 5:15 p.m. to report the fire at the Extended

Stay America on 3600 SW 42nd Street. The smoke detectors sounded the fire alarm and all the

guests of the hotel were evacuated.

The first responders to the scene found the fire had spread across a large part of the

carpet.

The responders extinguished the fire. No other rooms were damaged.

Guests of the hotel were allowed back inside at 11:44 p.m. All guests on the floor of the

fire were moved to other rooms of the hotel.

Fenton was taken to the emergency room due to her burns from the fire, according to

Cabrera.

“People need to be careful when cooking in a small space, especially when cooking with

hot grease,” said Cabrera.