Firefighters battle four-alarm fire at The Wayfinder Hotel - What'sUpNewp
This story was originally published at 8:47 pm on May 23. It has been updated.
Newport Fire Department and crews from several local communities battled a four-alarm structure fire at 151 Kalbfus Road, The Wayfinder Hotel, on Monday night.
"At 20:00 hrs Box 1990 was received for 151 Admiral Kalbfus Road. Upon arrival a "Code Red" was called, visible fire could be seen coming from the front side of the building, fire was between floor #1 and floor #2″ an After Action Report filed by Newport Fire Deputy Chief Mark Riding states.
An Engine crew was sent to floor #2 reporting high heat and heavy smoke, according to Riding.
Riding reports that the building was reported evacuated by hotel management and Mutual Aid was called within minutes after arrival.
A third alarm was called at 8:26 pm and later the incident would go to four alarms.
Assets from all of Aquidneck Island, Middletown, Portsmouth, Newport Navy, Bristol, Warren, North Kingstown, Narragansett, Snug Harbor, and East Greenwich reported to the scene, while Warwick and North Kingstown provided station coverage in Newport to cover other calls in the city, according to Riding's report.
Approximately 90 firefighters responded to the blaze, Chief Donnelly said on Monday night in a press briefing.
The Wayfinder, a 115,000-square-foot hotel and conference center, includes 195 guest rooms, a lobby, fitness center, an outdoor pool, pool shack, a full-service restaurant, cafe, and new meeting and event spaces, according to the hotels wesite.
"The fast-moving fire moved through void spaces between floors and cockloft area which made for difficult access," Riding writes.
Around approximately 9 pm, Incident Command ordered firefighters out of the building due to a collapse/compromise on the second floor.
Three Newport firefighters sustained injuries which included two shoulder injuries, one member received stitches to his leg. Another firefighter, Riding writes, fell through a hole in a fourth-floor unit, and was able to be retrieved without injury.
Red Cross, Providence Canteen, and the Rhode Island EMA is providing supplementary assistance and is assisting displaced guests in finding new accommodations.
Dovetail + Co., a hotel ownership and development company led by Phil Hospod, purchased the hotel for $14.34 million in 2019 from Atlantic Beach Hospitality Group.
"It's all really just awful. We are deeply grateful for the Newport Fire Department and all the surrounding communities that responded," Phil Hospod, CEO + Founder of Dovetail + Co/owner of The Wayfinder Hotel, told What'sUpNewp on Tuesday morning. "With the support of all the first responders and our local community members, we can confirm that all employees and guests were safely evacuated. At this time, we are solely focused on the well-being of our guests and employees. We appreciate the community's support during this difficult period and can provide updates as we assess the situation and determine next steps".
"The fire remains under investigation with the Newport Fire Marshall, Rhode Island State Fire Marshall, Newport Building Inspector will be on scene today (Tuesday)", according to Riding.
Fire crews remain on the scene and Riding says that they are expecting hot spots throughout the day.
The Wayfinder Hotel was scheduled to host six of the thirteen stand-up comedy shows that make up the annual Rogue Island Comedy Festival this weekend. Doug Key, co-founder of the Rogue Island Comedy Festival, says that he has found new venues to host the shows and will release details soon. Out-of-town comedians were expected to stay at The Wayfinder Hotel, Key is working to find a hotel/hotels that can host the comedians.
This story is developing and will be updated as we learn more.
Reporting From Others
WPRI – 3 firefighters injured in massive Newport hotel fire
WJAR – Flames shoot through roof of Newport hotel
WLNE – Nearly 200 rooms destroyed in fire at Newport hotel
More content from us on The Wayfinder Hotel
March 21, 2021 – Owner of Wayfinder Hotel in Newport acquires hotel in Hawaii, will open as Wayfinder Waikiki
June 3, 2020 – The Wayfinder Hotel, Nomi Park open
Jan. 10, 2020 – Haynes Group tapped to transform The Mainstay Hotel & Conference Center into The Wayfinder
Jan. 30, 2019 – Mainstay Hotel sells for $14.34 million (UPDATED)
Firefighters battle four-alarm fire at The Wayfinder Hotel - What'sUpNewp
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