Firefighters knock down small fire at downtown hotel, no injuries

LACONIA — Firefighters stopped a small fire at a hotel downtown on Monday afternoon. 

At 3:18 p.m. on Aug 18, firefighters received reports of a fire at the Best Western Plus Landmark Inn on Main Street.

Upon their arrival, firefighters located a small fire in the mechanical area of an elevator room and, using a water fire extinguisher, rendered it benign before 3:30 p.m.

At about 3:25 p.m., there were five firetrucks on the property — four in the front parking lot, where about 20 individuals were sitting and standing after being ordered out of the building, and another on the back side of the property closest to the river. On the back side, a basement door was propped open and a hand line ran from the engine into the building. 

On the Main Street side of the building, about a dozen firefighters were gathered in the entryways. Deputy Chief Louis Loutrel said firefighters were working to ventilate the building — ridding the basement and the seventh floor of smoke. 

Firefighters received reports that a hotel occupant was unaccounted for but, upon their arrival, located the individual in a room, and ensured their evacuation.

The fire was isolated to the elevator room in the basement, and there were no injuries, either of occupants or firefighters. All occupants were accounted for. 

The cause of the fire was unknown. 

Firefighters from Belmont, Gilford, Franklin, Tilton and Sanbornton assisted Laconia. Stewart’s Ambulance Services also responded to the scene. 

It was the second fire at the downtown hotel in just over one month’s time — occupants were evacuated on July 9, after a grease fire caused by a stove in one of the rooms on the second floor set off a fire alarm. There were no injuries in that case, either.