First responders arrive on scene within one minute of dispatch
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Sept. 6 — Luray’s volunteer firefighters arrived on the scene of a second-story blaze at Quality Inn on West Main Street within two minutes of the call being dispatched on Wednesday afternoon. They had the fire contained within 90 minutes. No injuries were reported.
No estimates of damages have been given by fire officials, who released a report midday Thursday.
“On Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at [1:29 p.m.], the Luray Fire Department was dispatched to the Quality Inn for a reported structure fire,” reads a report on the LVFD’s Facebook page. “Page County Medic 203 arrived on scene within one minute of the call being dispatched, and reported to be ‘on scene of a two-story hotel complex with heavy, black smoke pushing from the second floor’… also declaring the incident a working fire.”
While the cause of the fire was not stated, several reports indicate that the blaze did not start in a room, but rather in a “laundry area,” potentially due to a malfunctioning dryer.
“Engine 12 arrived within two minutes of the initial dispatch and secured a definitive water source by laying in from the nearest hydrant,” the fire report states. “The initial arriving crew on Engine 12 then quickly worked to advance an attack line to the upper fire rooms at which point a bulk of the fire load was knocked.”
“Additional Luray Fire Department resources arrived shortly thereafter including Tanker 1, Engine 7, and Squad 1,” the report continues. “At this time, additional attack lines were stretched to the opposing side of the structure and placed into operation, and ground ladders were thrown for means of egress for operating crews. LFD Tower 1 arrived and was placed into operation being utilized for roof access and vertical ventilation purposes.”
Within 90 minutes, the commercial structure fire was under control. At this time, foul play is not suspected; however, the incident will be further investigated by the hotel’s insurance provider. According to Chief C.S. “Bow” Cook, as “no criminal activity is suspected,” the Luray Police Department will not be investigating the incident further.
“There’s no suspicion of any criminal act at this time,” Chief Cook said on Thursday. “It does appear that it started in the laundry area.”
Emergency crews were on the scene for four hours, “cooling hot spots, performing overhaul operations, removing burnt debris, and continued ventilation efforts removing smoke from the structure,” according to the fire report.
The Stanley Volunteer Fire Department was called to serve as back-up at the Luray station, and later called to the scene for “additional manpower.” Luray sent six units to the site, including Engines 7 and 12, Tower 1, Tanker 1, Squad 1 and Medic 203; Stanley sent Engine 25 amd Serv 24.
Traffic on West Main Street between South Court Street and Memorial Drive was shut down for a couple of hours while emergency personnel worked the incident.
Shoppers Value in the East Luray Shopping Center donated food and drinks to emergency personnel during the incident.
For more information about the Luray Volunteer Fire Department,
visit their Facebook page.
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