Officials: Electrical malfunction sparked Comfort Inn blaze

Local News

Related Photos

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

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

November 20, 2008

Some portions of Comfort Inn largely undamaged

By ANDREA VAN VALKENBURG The Press Republican Sat May 15, 2010, 01:09 AM EDT

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.