On Wednesday, the Amarillo Fire Department responded to a fire at a hotel in Amarillo that caused $50,000 worth of damage.
According to fire officials, firefighters responded to a structure fire at the Hampton Inn & Suites at 6901 I-40 West, this morning. When firefighters arrived, they found smoke coming from the ceiling of the pool room in the hotel. An employee had been using a torch to burn leaves and weeds around the hotel and had caught the wall on fire.
Employees had used three fire extinguishers before crews arrived, but were unsuccessful in efforts to stop the fire.
Crews tore away the exterior wall to fight the fire. Roofing material was also removed. The fire was called under control one hour and one minute after crews arrived.
The fire's damage is estimated at $50,000. The fire has been ruled accidental, but fire officials are reminding residents that burning to remove vegetation in Amarillo is illegal.
