09:05 PM CST on Monday, December 27, 2004

From 11 News Staff Reports

Firefighters brought under control within an hour a blaze that erupted Monday afternoon at a Ramada Limited Hotel near Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport.

KHOU-TV

A two-alarm fire burns at the Ramada Limited. Smoke could be seen for miles around the area.

It started at about 3 p.m. and quickly went to a three-alarm fire.

Houston Fire Department Capt. Gilbert Bennett said the fire broke out on the top floor of a section of the three-story hotel, then entered the attic and spread halfway across the hotel roof.

Austin Allbritton's family had stayed in the room where the fire started, and had been out getting something to eat. "I'm glad that I wasn't in there, but I'm mad that all my stuff was burned," said the young motel guest.

Other guests were still opn that floor when the fire started. "I heard the fire alarm, so I opened up the door and heard the fire alarm in another room, and when I looked, fire was coming out from underneath the door," said Linda George.

"I think the fire officers, they took too long to put out a small blaze. We were surprised that it developed into such a wide area," said hotel owner Krishna Arjoonshinjh.

The fire moved across the roof as fire fighters and ladders at attention. No water was being sprayed on the roof because they said it wouldn't have done any good.

The fire entered into the void space of the building, and ran the attic area, which makes it a difficult fire to fight," said Gilbert Bennet of the Houston Fire Department.

The fire apparently started in a smoking room, but the woman who was registered in the room said she wasn't there and doesn't smoke.

Two firefighters were injured. One was hurt when the roof collapsed and the other was treated for smoke inhalation. They were taken to a hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported.

About 100 firefighters responded to the blaze.

Ramada Worldwide spokesman Emanuel Naim said everyone inside the 128-room hotel was evacuated.