Christmas Tree Catches Fire at Disneyland Hotel

[daber]

Artificial Tree Fire Forces Evacuation Of Disney Hotel



Wednesday December 28, 9:43 AM EST


ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)--A 35-foot Christmas tree caught fire early Wednesday in the lobby of the Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel, forcing the evacuation of more than 2,000 guests, officials said.

No one was injured except for a guest who complained of a strained back and another with symptoms of stress.

The sprinkler system kept the 3 a.m. local time blaze in the artificial tree in check, and firefighters were able to quickly put it out, said Maria Sabol, a spokeswoman for the Anaheim Fire Department.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, she said.

Guests were evacuated to other locations in and around the park, and hotel officials hoped to get them back into their rooms within a few hours, he said.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires
12-28-05 0943ET
Copyright (c) 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

 

[AllisonG]

Wow. Is this a first?
Don't recall hearing something like this happening in any Disney resort before.
But they do hide their stories well.

 

[Mister Incredible]

No one was injured except for a guest who complained of a strained back and another with symptoms of stress.

I can see the lawsuit coming a mile away!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Christmas Tree Catches Fire at Disneyland Hotel
By Jennifer Delson and David Reyes, Times Staff Writers

A towering Christmas tree caught fire today in the lobby of the Disneyland Resort's Grand Californian, prompting thousands of guests to be evacuated but no major injuries were reported, authorities said.

The fire began shortly before 3 a.m. at the 745-room hotel, next to the California Adventure theme park, activating the sprinkler system and other alarms. But firefighters doused the blaze shortly upon arrival, authorities said.

Still, authorities evacuated about 2,300 guests for safety reasons, and directed them to several nearby locations, including the Paradise Pier Hotel, one of many such lodges that ring Disneyland.

Michael Fenbrick, 34, who brought his family from Phoenix to the resort for a two-day visit, said he was awakened by the fire alarm.

"I thought it was some kid who pulled the handle. But when I opened the door, I immediately knew there was a real fire. I saw the smoke and I smelled it," Fenbrick said.

He said he was offered blankets and pastries as he sat in the theater in the Soaring Over California ride at the California Adventure theme park. "I never would have thought I would have come to Disneyland to be part of an evacuation," he said.

The fire was ignited when hotel employees changed the bulbs on a string of lights draped on the tree, said Maria Sabol, a spokeswoman for the Anaheim Fire Department.

Thick smoke spread throughout the atrium that is surrounded by guest rooms. Two people were treated and released for minor injuries. One person suffered from anxiety and another from a bad back, Sabol said.

The damage to the hotel was mostly limited to water, which soaked the carpet and furniture in the atrium's lobby. Those evacuated said they were able to return to their rooms about 7 a.m. this morning.

Jim Bingham, 48, and his family from Santee was asleep when they were jolted awake this morning. He leaned over the balcony and saw smoke rising. Rousing their four children, he and his wife Kerri, found a staircase that led them to safety.

They were directed to California Adventure, where they sat in the Aladdin Theater. Managers handed out blankets and slippers, he said, to keep warm many of those still wearing pajamas. They also were given hot chocolate and other snacks while they waited to return to their rooms.

"I must say they took very good care of us," said another guest, David Hemthorne, from Phoenix, who was staying on the hotel's third-floor and given coffee, food and blankets as he sat in a restaurant.

"It wasn't like the Super Dome" in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, he said.

 

[Maliki2]

I can see the lawsuit coming a mile away!

I agree. Maybe I can sue on the account that I might be afraid to stay at a resort now when I go in Feb...because it might catch on fire...oh the stress!!!

 

[Sarangel]

I've Merged the two threads about the fire, so we can discuss it all in one place.

Sarangel

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Wow. Is this a first?
Don't recall hearing something like this happening in any Disney resort before.
But they do hide their stories well.

No it is not a first... About 8 years ago (roughly) the tree in the lobby of then "Dixie Landings" (Now Port Orleans Riverside) caught fire at WDW. Reedy Creek asked that all resort trees be turned off immediatly after it happened and they went from resort to resort inspecting the wiring on all trees before they could be re-lite.