Fire Interrupts Wedding Parties at Hotel
A fire sparked by a faulty air-conditioner forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 people from a tourist hotel but was quickly put out.
One person suffered an undisclosed minor injury as people were ushered out of the Buena Park Hotel and Convention Center shortly after 6 p.m., said Capt. Scott Brown of the Orange County Fire Authority.
Guests were allowed to reenter after about 90 minutes.
Brown said sprinklers doused the fire, which began when a malfunctioning air-conditioner ignited luggage in a fourth-floor room.
The evacuation interrupted four wedding banquets underway in the 320-room hotel.
“We had brides in their nice gowns in the parking lots,” hotel general manager Javed Nawaz said. “I talked to two of the brides and they took it in good stride.”
Nawaz said the hotel was keeping its banquet rooms open later to make up for the interruption.
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