Jeffrey D. Nutting, Town Administrator
355 East Central Street
Route 140
Franklin, MA 02038
For Immediate Release
Monday, Oct. 5, 2015
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: john@jgpr.net
Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 978-769-5193
Email: jessica@jgpr.net
Franklin Fire Department Extinguishes Laundry Room Blaze at Hawthorn Suites Hotel
FRANKLIN — Chief Gary B. McCarraher reports that the Franklin Fire Department quelled a small fire in the laundry room of the Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham on Sunday.
Around 10 a.m., dispatch received a 911 telephone call regarding a report of a fire in a dryer at Hawthorn Suites, 835 Upper Union St.
Firefighters arrived on scene minutes later to find smoke coming from the rear of the three-story hotel. Once inside, they encountered moderate smoke conditions on the first floor corridor and heavy smoke in the laundry room due to a fire in a commercial clothes dryer.
All occupants at the hotel were evacuated safely during the incident. Firefighters were able to use handheld fire extinguishers to put out the fire, keeping damage to a minimum. The fire damaged the clothes dryer and an adjacent dryer on the first floor. All floors sustained light to moderate smoke damage.
The Fire Department believes the blaze appears to have started as a result of an accumulation of lint in the dryer’s filter. It remains under investigation.
It took firefighters about 30 minutes to clear the area. The Franklin Fire Department received mutual aid from Norfolk and Bellingham. Guests were able to reenter the hotel after the incident.
No guests or firefighters were injured. The cost attributed to the damage is still being determined.
“We are thankful that no one was hurt and that everyone remained safe while firefighters put out the fire,” Chief McCarraher said. “The matter remains under investigation.”
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