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Downtown Milwaukee hotel fire: guests evacuated

Fire broke out at the Cambria Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee around 4 a.m. Sunday

Downtown Milwaukee hotel fire: guests evacuated

Fire broke out at the Cambria Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee around 4 a.m. Sunday

WISCONSIN DNR AND THE DEVELOPERS. A FIRE AT A DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE HOTEL FORCES GUESTS TO CUT THEIR STAY SHORT. THE MILWAUKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO FLAMES OUTSIDE THE CAMBRIA HOTEL SUNDAY MORNING. THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE DAMAGE LEFT BEHIND. THERE ARE NO INJURIES. ONE GUEST TELLS 12 NEWS THEY WERE LEFT SCRAMBLING TO FIND A NEW PLACE TO STAY AFTER COMING INTO TOWN FOR A CONCERT. AND INSIDE IT SMELLED STILL LIKE FIRE AND KIND OF WET. AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, NOT GREAT. FOR ME, THAT MEANT THAT I COULDN’T CHECK IN. THEY WEREN’T LETTING ANYBODY NEW CHECK IN. AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, CAN YOU HELP ME FIND ANOTHER PLACE? YOU KNOW, LIKE HOTELS TEND TO HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER HOTELS, SO I FIGURED THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO. SHE SAYS STAFF TOLD HER THEY WOULD ISSUE A FULL REFUND, BUT COULDN’T OFFER ANY FURTHER HELP. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CAMBRIA HOTEL SENT US A STATEMENT LAST NIGHT SAYING IN PART, THE SAFETY OF OUR GUESTS AND ASSOCIATES IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. WE HAVE RELOCATED OUR GUESTS TO NEARBY HOTELS FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR STAYS. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE MILWAUKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THEY COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATION AND THE HOTEL JUST CONFIRMING WITH 12 NEWS, THEY ARE STILL HELPING THOSE GUESTS
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Downtown Milwaukee hotel fire: guests evacuated

Fire broke out at the Cambria Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee around 4 a.m. Sunday

A downtown Milwaukee hotel fire forced guests to evacuate in the middle of the night. The fire broke out around 4 a.m. Sunday at the Cambria Hotel, near Clybourn Street and Plankinton Avenue. The fire forced guests from their beds early as they awaited the Milwaukee Fire Department. "This was in a four-story hotel that was packed to the gills with sleeping occupants. This is a risk factor that just takes it right off the charts," Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said. Lipski said the Milwaukee Fire Department arrived to flames on the outside of the building near the front entrance. "We had to put numerous firefighters in the building to begin searching for any trapped occupants because the building was filled with smoke and beat to find fire and spot that from spreading," Lipski said.Thankfully, no one was hurt. One guest arrived early Sunday morning to check in for the night when she was turned away."I came inside, and it smelled still like fire and kind of wet, and I thought 'OK, not great,'" Sehba Faheem said.Faheem was in town from Chicago, joining friends for the Janet Jackson concert Sunday night. Because of the fire she was unable to check in to her hotel room. "I couldn't check in. They weren't letting anybody new check-in," Faheem said. Staff told Faheem they would issue a full refund but couldn't offer any further help. Guests WISN 12 News spoke with said they would be allowed to continue their stay at the hotel and would be compensated for the night.In a statement, a hotel spokesperson tells WISN 12 News, "The safety of our guests and associates is our top priority. Our swift action ensured everyone was safely evacuated. We have relocated our guests to nearby hotels for the duration of their stays. We are working closely with the Milwaukee Fire Department as they complete their investigation."The hotel confirmed Monday night that they continue to help guests and are not checking in new guests.

A downtown Milwaukee hotel fire forced guests to evacuate in the middle of the night.

The fire broke out around 4 a.m. Sunday at the Cambria Hotel, near Clybourn Street and Plankinton Avenue.

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The fire forced guests from their beds early as they awaited the Milwaukee Fire Department.

"This was in a four-story hotel that was packed to the gills with sleeping occupants. This is a risk factor that just takes it right off the charts," Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said.

Lipski said the Milwaukee Fire Department arrived to flames on the outside of the building near the front entrance.

"We had to put numerous firefighters in the building to begin searching for any trapped occupants because the building was filled with smoke and beat to find fire and spot that from spreading," Lipski said.

Thankfully, no one was hurt.

One guest arrived early Sunday morning to check in for the night when she was turned away.

"I came inside, and it smelled still like fire and kind of wet, and I thought 'OK, not great,'" Sehba Faheem said.

Faheem was in town from Chicago, joining friends for the Janet Jackson concert Sunday night. Because of the fire she was unable to check in to her hotel room.

"I couldn't check in. They weren't letting anybody new check-in," Faheem said.

Staff told Faheem they would issue a full refund but couldn't offer any further help.

Guests WISN 12 News spoke with said they would be allowed to continue their stay at the hotel and would be compensated for the night.

In a statement, a hotel spokesperson tells WISN 12 News, "The safety of our guests and associates is our top priority. Our swift action ensured everyone was safely evacuated. We have relocated our guests to nearby hotels for the duration of their stays. We are working closely with the Milwaukee Fire Department as they complete their investigation."

The hotel confirmed Monday night that they continue to help guests and are not checking in new guests.