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Fire causes $250,000 in damages to Econo Lodge

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By Nancy Bowman, Staff Writer Updated 6:45 PM Friday, May 1, 2009

TROY — Fire officials said a late Thursday, April 30, fire at the Econo Lodge on Brukner Drive apparently was electrical in nature, starting in the building’s attic.

Fire Chief Chris Boehringer said Friday the fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damages to the building and another $50,000 to contents.

The fire damaged the eastern half of the 76-room hotel. The property is owned by BPV Inc., according to Miami County auditor’s office records.

Firewalls included in the two-story structure when it was built in the late 1980s or early 1990s helped contain the fire to half of the building, Boehringer said.

Two people staying at the hotel were checked at the scene for possible injuries, but did not require medical treatment. One fell exiting the building.

Two firefighters sustained minor injuries. One received a burn on the hand and the other was hit in the head when water-soaked ceiling materials fell on him, Boehringer said. Neither firefighter sought medical treatment.

The fire comes a month before the annual Troy Strawberry Festival and other summer events.

“Anytime a hotel experiences a disaster, it can be a bit problematic. I foresee the real problem to be during the Strawberry Festival soccer (tournament) since that is the same weekend as Hamvention,” said Diana Thompson, executive director of the Miami County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

If the property remains closed into July, room availability could be tight because of numerous events that usually fill area lodging that month such as the Dayton air show and Country Concert in the Hills, she said.

Two new hotels in Miami County are expected to open this month. They are a Comfort Suites next to Interstate 75 off Ohio 41 at Troy and a Holiday Inn Express at I-75 and Ohio 571 at Tipp City.

Thursday night’s blaze was the second major fire battled this week by Troy firefighters, with help from area departments.

A Sunday afternoon fire caused an estimated $200,000 loss to buildings and materials at World Wide Junk Dealers and Recycling on South Union Street.

Boehringer said firefighters think the fire started on the second floor of a building filled with plastic targeted for recycling.

As far as the fire’s cause, “I think that will remain undetermined due to the nature of the fire “ and materials destroyed, Boehringer said Friday. The fire investigation will remain open, he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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This fire was crazy. I was staying in the room next door to where the fire started. The owners have done nothing for the guest that were staying there the night of the fire. The owners have since left town.

Angela
6:13 PM, 5/3/2009

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They're called 'commas' and 'periods'. Try using them

Joebaba
3:34 PM, 5/1/2009

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who owns this hotel?

jdy
8:21 AM, 5/1/2009

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this is a crazy fire i heard that someone was smoking in one of the rooms and caught the place on fire and i was there and about half or more of the motel was up in flames i got a couple of pictures on my phones and my friend took a video with his digital camera it was crazy and the fire started more like 11:15 not 11:40

patrick
12:43 AM, 5/1/2009

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