Roosevelt Hotel
The ballroom held many events and this night hosted a paThe fire started in the ballroom and was said to have started from a discarded cigarrette but it actually began in the ceiling from faulty wiring.rty after the Gator Bowl. This hotel was one of only two luxury hotels in Jacksonville, FL at the time.
The first calls came in at about 0700 to the Jacksonville Fire Department and smoke was already traveling throughout the 13 story building with people hanging out windows and some actually used bedsheets to climb to safety.
Helicopters were flown in and some patrons were removed from the roof. It has been estimated that 475 people were rescued that night, but 21 hotel guests died in their beds, believed to have been from carbon monoxide poisioning and the assistant chief, J.R. Romedy collapsed during the initial rescue efforts from a heart attack and died at the scene.
Where the fire started, in the ceiling of the ballroom, was scrutinized because the ceiling was deemed a fire hazard due to the finish. When the ceiling was replaced, it wasn’t replaced, just covered by the new ceiling. The fire hazard was still there but not visible.
Also on FirefightersEnemy …
- Storage in the Stairs – June 25, 2011
- Standpipe Crowding – June 19, 2011
- Get the Whole Picture – November 23, 2010
- Kitchen Suppression Dump Test and Suggestion – March 31, 2011
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