A Sunday afternoon fire at a motel in Charleston has raised concerns about fire safety after officials said it was likely caused by a candle.
Fire Breaks Out at West Ashley Motel
According to the Charleston Fire Department, crews responded to the West Ashley Inn on Savannah Highway just before 2:30 p.m. after receiving multiple emergency calls.
When firefighters arrived, they saw:
- Smoke and flames coming from a first-floor room
- Fire spreading inside a unit of the two-storey building
Quick Response Prevents Major Damage
Fire crews acted quickly to control the situation:
- The main fire was brought under control within six minutes
- The entire incident was contained in under 20 minutes
- Teams also searched rooms and helped evacuate guests
Thanks to the fast response, everyone inside the building was safely evacuated.
Cause of the Fire
Investigators believe the fire started due to a candle left burning in a bathroom.
Officials said:
- The candle ignited nearby items
- The occupant noticed the fire and quickly left the room
- Emergency services were called immediately
Safety Concerns Noted
Authorities also pointed out some serious safety issues:
- The building did not have a fire sprinkler system
- Smoke alarms were missing in the affected unit
These factors could have made the situation much worse if the fire had spread further.
Injuries and Rescue Efforts
One motel employee who helped evacuate people was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
Other than that, no injuries were reported. Several pets were also safely rescued during the evacuation.
