DeRidder hotel awning catches fire
<p class="p1">DERIDDER — A discarded cigarette may be to blame for a small fire that broke out Sunday evening at the Best Western hotel in DeRidder.</p><p class="p1">Fire chief Ken Harlow said “discarded smoking material” started the small blaze on the hotel’s lobby awning that forced an evacuation of the building and caused some damage to the roof and interior of the awning. </p><p class="p1">Harlow said the awning was not attached to the main hotel building, and damage was contained before any damage to the main structure was made.</p><p class="p1">The fire began at the southeast column and spread to the attic space of the awning, Harlow said. The fire was first reported at 5:33 p.m. and the first unit arrived at the scene at 5:36 p.m., he said. The last unit cleared the scene at 7:45 p.m.</p><p class="p1">Ambulance providers were at the scene according to protocol, Harlow said, but no injuries were reported.</p><p class="p1">The hotel was able to remain open for business after firefighters cleared the scene, a spokesperson said.</p>