70 Rescued From Blazing Hotel in Santa Barbara
Firefighters rescued 70 people from a 50-year-old hotel as flames lit up the harbor in the city’s largest fire this year, authorities said.
The blaze, reported at 10:37 p.m. Thursday, caused an estimated $590,000 damage to the Southern Hotel on State Street. There were no major injuries, Fire Department spokesman Peter Ramsdell said, although one man was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters rescued about 50 people from smoke-choked corridors and rooms, and 20 other people scrambled down ladders from second-story fire escapes and windows, Ramsdell said.
“Not too many people were able to take much with them,” he added.
About 50 firefighters controlled the blaze shortly before 2 a.m., and the last embers were doused about 4 a.m.
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