Massive fire engulfs former hotel in Ullin, Illinois; arson investigation underway
ULLIN, Ill., (KBSI) — UPDATE: A fire at a vacant hotel brought a response from approximately 65 firefighters, who worked to extinguish the blaze until around 3 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
The Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire as a precaution.
Multiple fire departments responded to a massive fire at the former Quality Inn/Cheekwood Inn Hotel just off Interstate 57.
The hotel was in flames, but no injuries have been reported.
Anthoney Phelps is the Captain of the Ullin volunteer fire department he says about 65 firefighters worked tirelessly to fight the massive fire as the entire building was smoke and flames.
Crews worked more than 5 hours to get the incident under control, Phelps says luckily no one was inside the hotel when the fire broke out.
“Last night we had 12 departments from Alexander County, Union County and Pulaski County, that showed up” says Phelps.
“The hotel has been vacant for id say probably a month or two now is what we are hearing. It had no electricity, no water, no gas.”
Phelps shares that they are unsure what started the fire at this time, but arson has not been ruled out
“We have the Illinois State Fire Marshal Here doing an arson investigation, it’s just a precaution” says Phelps.
We will provide updates on this incident as they come.
Photo Credit: WFCN News- Swinford Media Group
