OLYMPIA, Wash. — Crews battled a two-alarm fire that destroyed part of an Olympia hotel Friday morning.
It started overnight at the Quality Inn at 1211 Quince St SE. At one point, flames were shooting from the top of the building.
>>PHOTOS: Massive fire burns Olympia Quality Inn
Fire officials said the fire began outside in a shrub and then spread into the building’s siding and into the attic.
Crews said they had trouble reaching all the flames as the fire spread through hidden spaces. A second alarm was called to summon more crews and engines.
“For 45 minutes firefighters attempted to battle the fire from the inside and assisted 15 people from the building. Due to the unique construction of the structure, a defensive strategy was taken and crews began fighting the fire from the exterior,” the Olympia Fire Department said in a release.
Fire officials said the main building is a total loss, but a second building was saved.
About 80 people who were staying at the hotel at the time were evacuated. They sheltered in two Intercity Transit buses until they could find other accommodations.
No injuries were reported.
Lacey Fire Dist. 3, Tumwater Fire, McLane Black Lake Fire, South Bay Fire and East Olympia Fire helped assisted Olympia firefighters.
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