Most Blaze Victims Return to Hotel; $1-Million Damage

About 150 mostly elderly residents forced out of a downtown hotel by a fire that caused $1 million in damage were allowed to return to their rooms over the weekend, but more than 60 others had to be housed elsewhere.

Most of the residents at the Maryland Hotel were back in their rooms by late Saturday afternoon, a day after a blaze broke out in the six-story structure when a woman fell asleep smoking a cigarette in bed.

Tom Mix, manager of the 75-year-old hotel, said fire damage was confined to about 10 rooms but scores of others were hit by smoke and water damage. He estimated it may take up to three months to repair all of the damaged rooms.

The 280-room hotel, which serves as a permanent home for many elderly people, was about 75% occupied when the fire started, Mix said. No one suffered serious injury in the fire.

About 50 people were being placed in other hotels, and another 10 or 15 were staying with relatives, Mix said. Those people will be reimbursed for rents already paid, he said.