WASHINGTON — UPDATE: Sunday 1 p.m. Inspectors say the hotel is a complete loss and crews expect to be on the scene for several more hours as the roof and other parts of the building have collapsed. Displaced guests are at nearby hotels, and Red Cross is on the scene to assist.
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About 200 people were evacuated overnight after what has been described as “a big explosion” at a Fort Belvoir hotel.
“We heard a kaboom and it woke us up. It rocked the town home,” said Nancy Robertson, who lives a half-mile away from the Quality Inn on U.S. 1 in Fairfax County.
Fire crews from all across the county arrived at the hotel n Fort Belvoir at about 2 a.m. Sunday morning, and found the hotel well engulfed in flames.
Fairfax County Assistant Fire Chief John Caussin told WTOP on the scene that the fire looks to have started in a utility room. It took hours for firefighters to put out the blaze, which did significant damage to the hotel.
One person was injured and a firefighter suffered minor burns. NBC 4 reported Sunday morning that several people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
This story is developing.
