CBD hotel fire in New Orleans forces evacuation

The New Orleans Fire Department doused an electrical fire that forced guests to evacuate La Belle Maison Hotel in the Central Business District on Saturday night (May 16). No one was injured in the one-alarm fire.

It started around 8 p.m. at the hotel at 209 Magazine St., said Capt. Edwin Holmes of the Fire Department. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke on the first floor of the hotel and discovered an electrical fire in the room housing the hotel’s main electric panel, Holmes said.

They shut off the building’s power and worked to suppress the fire as the building was evacuated. The fire was controlled at 9:26 p.m.

Of the 134 guest rooms, 124 were occupied. Entergy New Orleans advised hotel management to have guests find alternative sleeping arrangements for the night. The American Red Cross came to help guests find places to stay.

The Fire Department said nine of its units carrying 27 fire suppression and support personnel responded.