Mariott Hotel evacuates due to smoke

A local hotel evacuates guests after smoke is seen coming out of two different floors.

Just after 1 pm Thursday afternoon, Kern County Fire responded to the Marriott Courtyard in Central Bakersfield.

When firefighters arrived on scene, the hotel had already been evacuated.

Crews used some high tech equipment to find the source of the smoke.

Captain Doug Johnson, Kern County Fire Dept, "We used some thermal imaging to look at the duct system to find the source of the fire."

Captain Johnson says it's too early to say, but the extreme heat may have lead to the AC unit burning out.

All guests that were evacuated have been since returned to the hotel.

Report of fire at local hotel calls for short evacuation

July 8, 2007

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A report of a possible fire at t the Hyatt on Palm Canyon Drive leaves one stuck in an elevator and dozens in the heat.

At 9:11 a.m., the Palm Springs Fire Department received reports of a fire alarm and that the fire was in an elevator shaft with a person trapped inside, according to fire officials.

When firefighters arrived, after evacuating the hotel and searching the building, they determined there was no fire in the building.

“It was a burned up motor that was generating smoke,” Battalion Chief Mark Avner said.

The hotel guest were outside for about 30 minutes, Avner added, and during that time firefighters worked on extricating the person in the elevator.

The person is an employee of the hotel and was in the service elevator mainly used by hotel staff, Avner said.

“The motor overheated and the elevator got locked between two floors,” Avner said.

No injuries were reported