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Smoky Fire Forces Evacuation at Hyatt Times Square, Officials Say Smoky Fire at Bar Forces Evacuation of Hotel at Times Square, Officials Say
(32 minutes later)
A smoky fire at the Hyatt Times Square on West 45th Street prompted the evacuation of guests on Sunday morning. A smoky fire at a bar adjacent to the Hyatt Centric Times Square on West 45th Street prompted the evacuation of hotel guests on Sunday morning.
The fire, which was reported about 7:40 a.m., started in duct work in the kitchen of O’Lunney’s Restaurant and Bar next door to the Hyatt, Battalion Chief Tom Meara said.The fire, which was reported about 7:40 a.m., started in duct work in the kitchen of O’Lunney’s Restaurant and Bar next door to the Hyatt, Battalion Chief Tom Meara said.
Three people suffered minor injuries related to exhaustion during the evacuation, the chief said.Three people suffered minor injuries related to exhaustion during the evacuation, the chief said.
The cause of the fire, which was out by 8:50 a.m., was under investigation.The cause of the fire, which was out by 8:50 a.m., was under investigation.
A representative of the hotel could not immediately be reached. The hotel’s general manager, Tom Blundell, said in a statement that alarms were sounded as a result of the fire next door and that it had been contained to the bar. After firefighters gave the all-clear, guests were allowed to return.
Linda Lawrence, a guest, stood outside the hotel, barefoot. One of the guests, Coco Yang, was looking for her son and daughter after they had evacuated from the 28th floor. She said she had woken up to the smell of smoke.
Ms. Lawrence, of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., was visiting New York for one night and was on the 49th floor of the hotel with her husband and two daughters, Charlee, 7, and Kayce, 7, when the fire alarm sounded, she said. “As soon as she got up, she said, ‘We’re going to die,’” said her daughter, Sonia Piaggi, who was staying at the hotel with her mother, her brother Mattia Piaggi, and a friend, Luca Mornet.
Mr. Piaggi was on crutches and, as they made their way out of the room, took a different stairwell than their mother and they were separated.
Another guest, Linda Lawrence, stood outside the hotel, barefoot. Ms. Lawrence, of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., was visiting New York for one night and was on the 49th floor of the hotel with her husband and two daughters, Charlee, 7, and Kayce, 7, when the fire alarm sounded, she said.
“We ignored it because there are so many false alarms,” she said.“We ignored it because there are so many false alarms,” she said.
Her daughters looked out the window and saw heavy billowing smoke, she said. It smelled like burning rubber.Her daughters looked out the window and saw heavy billowing smoke, she said. It smelled like burning rubber.
They made their way down 49 flights of stairs.They made their way down 49 flights of stairs.
“It’s tough because they’re slow and they’re scared,” she said of her daughters.“It’s tough because they’re slow and they’re scared,” she said of her daughters.
Some guests were especially kind and offered to help carry the girls while others pushed them out of the way, she said. Some guests were especially kind and offered to help carry the girls, while others pushed them out of the way, she said.
She said the evacuation was well organized, though. She said the evacuation had been well organized.
The family was visiting New York for the first time to celebrate Charlee’s birthday and wanted to stay on a very high floor of a hotel.The family was visiting New York for the first time to celebrate Charlee’s birthday and wanted to stay on a very high floor of a hotel.
“Welcome to New York,” she said, with a laugh.“Welcome to New York,” she said, with a laugh.