WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Fire prompts Seelbach evacuation

Fire prompts Seelbach evacuation

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - An overnight fire at a downtown hotel sent over six dozen guests into the streets and caused about $25,000 in damages. It happened just after midnight Monday at the Seelbach Hotel at 4th and Muhammad Ali.

Fire officials say an electrical problem ignited the fire in the hotel's telephone room in the basement. Fortunately, the hotel's sprinkler system helped keep the fire contained.

Sgt. Salvador Melendez said in a statement that although the sprinkler system was activated, firefighters also utilized dry-chemical fire extinguishers.

Some guests went ahead and moved to the nearby hotels, while others waited it out, including Carston and Tiffany Clemens, newlyweds who were scheduled to fly out of Louisville on their honeymoon Monday morning.

"We're waiting for our passport, my wedding dress - everything is up there," Tiffany said. "We're going to wait it out."

About 80 people were evacuated, including guests and hotel personnel. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters returned the hotel back over to management around 3:30 a.m.

Melendez says electricians and hotel maintenance personnel were still working on the necessary repairs to the electrical and sprinkler systems, but said the work should be completed sometime Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, patrons have been relocated to other area hotels.

Arson squad personnel are investigating the cause of the fire.