‘An amazing adventure’: Henry Winkler evacuated in Dublin hotel fire
Henry Winkler FILE PHOTO: Henry Winkler attends the 2024 Critics Choice Awards on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for SeeHer) (Presley Ann/Getty Images for SeeHer)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
DUBLIN — Henry Winkler’s visit to Dublin got off to a rough start after a fire alarm went off at the hotel where he was staying, forcing everyone to evacuate the building.
The alarm went off around 10:30 a.m. local time, and a witness told RTE that smoke was coming from an upper window of the Shelbourne Hotel.
One of those staying at the hotel and was forced to leave his room was none other than The Fonz.
He told the local news outlet that his plane had been delayed three-and-a-half hours the night before and that the fire alarm woke him up.
At first, he didn’t realize it was a fire alarm buzzing.
“I thought somebody had set the alarm before we got there, like another guest. And finally I went into another room and it was still buzzing, so I called downstairs and the woman said in a very calm voice ‘Yes, we’re all evacuating. You must evacuate right now’ and I left,” he told RTE.
The fire was under control within an hour, People reported.
Winkler took to social media to thank the firefighters who put out the flames, writing, “Thank you Dublin’s fire department ... our hotel was evacuated on our first morning !!!”
Hotel management said it was a small electrical fire in the hotel that dates back to 1824. No one was hurt, TMZ reported.
Talking to a gaggle of reporters after the evacuation, Winkler called the situation “an amazing adventure right here in Dublin. I cannot wait to see the rest of Dublin.”
Winkler was in Dublin to promote his new book, BBC News reported.
Through the years UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 26: HAPPY DAYS - "Reluctantly Aggressive" - Season One - 11/26/73 Ron Howard, Anson Williams, Donny Most, Henry Winkler (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 19: HAPPY DAYS - "Not With My Sister You Don't" - Season Two - 11/19/74, Joanie learned about the birds and the bees after she started dating Fonzie's nephew, Spike. Pictured: Ron Howard (Richie), Henry Winkler (Fonzie), (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years Unspecified - 1975: (L-R) Sissy Spacek, Henry Winkler appearing in the Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images tv movie 'Katherine'. (Photo by Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 20: HAPPY DAYS - "Fonzie Goes to Hollywood, Part III" - Season Five - 9/20/77, Fonzie (Henry Winkler) accepted a challenge to jump over a shark tank while water skiing., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 28: HAPPY DAYS - "My Favorite Orkan" - Season Five - 2/28/78, This is the first appearance of the alien Mork from Ork (Robin Wiliams, center), which earned him and Williams his own spin-off series, "Mork & Mindy". Mork came to Earth looking for someone to study and picked Richie (Ron Howard, right). Henry Winkler (Fonzie) also starred., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years WASHINGTON - JANUARY 22: Actor Henry Winkler speaks during the Mayor's Arts Luncheon at the Capital Hilton Hotel January 22, 2004 in Washington, DC. The Americans for the Arts and U.S. Conference of Mayors joint event honored Mayor Martin OÕMalley of Baltimore, Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania, actor Henry Winkler and singer Tony Bennett for the leadership and generosity in the arts. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - MAY 07: Author Henry Winkler signs copies of his new book "A Brand New Me!" at Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle on May 7, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Corrigan/Getty Images) (Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 01: Actor Adam Sandler (L) and his children as actor Henry Winkler speaks during the installation ceremony for Sandler's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 1, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 14: Actor Henry Winkler attends the curtain call for the opening night of "The Performers" on Broadway at Longacre Theatre on November 14, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Through the years NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 18: Actor Henry Winkler attends Nashville Comic Con 2013 at Music City Center on October 18, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images) (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
Through the years ST. PAUL, MN - NOVEMBER 03: Actor, director, producer and author, Henry Winkler, inspires 18,000 students and educators at WE Day Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center on November 3, 2015. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/ Getty Images for We Day) (Adam Bettcher)
Through the years STUDIO CITY, CA - MAY 31: Actor Henry Winkler visits 'The IMDb Show' on May 31, 2018 in Studio City, California. This episode of 'The IMDb Show' airs on June 7, 2018. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb) (Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb)
Through the years AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 09: Henry Winkler at #TwitterHouse during the SXSW Conference and Festival on March 09, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Twitter) (Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Twitter)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Henry Winkler attends The Paley Center For Media Presents An Evening With Henry Winkler at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on February 12, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images) (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Through the years UNSPECIFIED - OCTOBER 10: In this screengrab Henry Winkler appears during the 2020 Carousel of Hope Ball benefiting the Children’s Diabetes Foundation on October 10, 2020 in UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED - Region AMER. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for Children's Diabetes Foundation ) (Getty Images/["Getty Images for Children's Di)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: (L-R) Henry Winkler and William Shatner attend the 18th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on June 02, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: Henry Winkler (L) and Bill Hader attend HBO's original series "Barry" Los Angeles Season 4 Premiere at Hollywood Forever on April 16, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: Henry Winkler attends HBO's original series "Barry" Los Angeles Season 4 Premiere at Hollywood Forever on April 16, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Billy Porter and Henry Winkler attend New York Magazine's Vulture Festival LA at Goya Studios on November 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Vox Media) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Vox Media)