Fire inside a La Mesa motel spready quickly early Tuesday, consuming the second floor and causing the roof to collapse. Many guests who were awakened by the fire alarm had time to only grab a few belongings before they could escape the flames.
Dozens of firefighters responded to the Rodeway Inn on Spring Street just before 5 a.m. Flames were shooting from the roof of the two-story motel located along Interstate 8.
The fire started high inside the building, made its way through the attic and moved very rapidly, according to Heartland Fire Chief Rick Sitta.
The building is in "imminent" danger of collapsing, investigators said.
"We have some structural issues right now, that the building is in imminent collapse right now," said Heartland Fire Fire Marshal Chris Jensen. "The building has no roof system holding up walls and so forth."
The water firefighters used to put out the fire is now trapped in walls and ceilings, compromising the structure. The heavy rainfall across San Diego added to the problem, he said.
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Firefighters cannot enter the building to investigate until the building dries out.
La Mesa Motel Guests Escape Fire: Images
One of the owners was watching the security cameras when several cameras fogged up. Right after that, the fire alarm activated.
Dinesh Botta's family manages the hotel. He was awakened by the sound of the alarm and immediately realized he needed to get as many people out of the building as possible.
“The flames went up very huge,” Botta said. “I was really terrified.”
He went door to door to make sure the motel was evacuated.
Fire destroyed the entire second floor of the motel, fire officials said. The first floor sustained significant water damage.
When fire crews arrived there was light smoke rising from the center of the roof area. Then they noticed flames from the same area and called for a second alarm, according to Chief Sitta.
“Once they made access inside, they found heavy fire conditions on the second floor and the attic space,” he said.
Seventeen rooms were occupied when fire started, according to the manager. Guests evacuated themselves before fire crews arrived.
“I had my passport documents everything I don’t know if they’re burned or if they’re still there," Botta said.
There were no injuries to firefighters or residents.
The San Diego chapter of the American Red Cross was requested to come to the scene and offer help to those displaced by the fire.
More than 30 firefighters from Heartland Fire Department, Cal Fire and San Diego Fire-Rescue were called to the two-alarm fire.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
