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  • State and local fire investigators believe an electrical malfunction sparked a fire that destroyed most of the Comfort Inn and Suites in Plattsburgh last weekend. This photo, taken by Robert Peryea from 60 to 70 feet up in a District 3 aerial ladder truck, shows the extensive damage to the structure, as it appeared on Sunday morning. Robert Peryea

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November 20, 2008

Officials: Electrical malfunction sparked Comfort Inn blaze

Some portions of Comfort Inn largely undamaged

By ANDREA VAN VALKENBURG

PLATTSBURGH — Officials say an electrical malfunction likely sparked the blaze that destroyed much of the Comfort Inn and Suites hotel complex last weekend.

"As far as the cause of that malfunction, we don't know at this point. We may never know," Clinton County Emergency Services Director Eric Day said Wednesday afternoon.

He said it could take state investigators anywhere from two weeks to a month to file a report on the exact cause.

Based on the preliminary investigation and rounds of interviews with employees and first-responders, fire officials determined that Saturday's electrical fire sparked inside the hotel's sauna on the first level of the complex.

Day said it appears the fire ignited inside the wall or ceiling area of the sauna room and quickly spread into the attic and open spaces above the first floor.

Despite the efforts of more than 100 firefighters, the fast-moving flames consumed much of the complex and caused millions of dollars in damage.

The Court Club gym and a large portion of the hotel were destroyed by the fire, which also damaged Legends Sports Bar and Brew Pub.

Firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading into the hotel's main ballroom, Perkins Restaurant and a number of guest rooms in the rear of the complex.

Many local businesses, agencies and individuals have come forward to offer help to people and events displaced by the fire.

Among those is the Rainbow Wedding and Banquet Hall in Altona, which is still receiving calls from people trying to find new locations for events.

Rainbow owner Peck Sample said Wednesday that he has three rooms that can accommodate large crowds.

One room can hold a maximum of 350 people, and two other rooms can hold about 500 people each.

"We want people to know that we can handle big crowds," he said.

— Staff Writer Joe LoTemplio contributed to this report.

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