Fire breaks out at hotel in Thiruvananthapuram; people evacuated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A fire broke out at Hotel Highland in Thampanoor on Friday evening after flames from a stove in the kitchen on the second floor spread to the chimney. The incident occurred at around 5 pm. All guests were safely evacuated from the hotel. Three units of the Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control.

According to the Fire and Rescue Services, the flames spread from the stove to the chimney, where oil and grease had accumulated. The exhaust fan was running at the time, causing the fire to spread upward quickly. Kitchen staff initially tried to put out the fire by pouring water on the flames, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Within minutes, thick smoke filled the kitchen and nearby rooms, forcing employees and guests to rush out of the building in panic.

Smoke spread up to the sixth floor of the hotel. Some staff members helped evacuate guests staying on the upper floors, while others hurried down the staircase carrying their belongings. A few guests suffered minor injuries in the rush to escape.

Three fire engines from the Chenkalchoola Fire Station responded to the incident. It took firefighters about an hour to bring the fire under control. The incident also caused traffic congestion in the Thampanoor area as a large number of people gathered near the hotel. Fire officials said the blaze started after flames from the stove spread to the chimney used to vent smoke from the kitchen. Meanwhile, some guests alleged that the hotel's smoke alarm system did not function during the incident.