Lafayette, LA –Lafayette firefighters responded to a commercial fire at 2716 NE Evangeline Thruway, old Ramada Inn Hotel. As firefighters arrived on scene, witnesses alerted responding crews that the fire was in the rear of the complex. Emergency crews found heavy smoke coming from an upstairs room. Firefighters entered the second-floor room and discovered flames throughout. The fire was brought under control within 10 minutes. Two adjacent rooms were also damaged as a result.
The hotel had been vacant for over 15 years. This would be the third fire at this location since 2016. Fire officials have found evidence of individuals squatting inside the vacant rooms on each occasion. There’s graffiti all over the building. Contact with the property representative has been made. They have cleared the exterior overgrowth of the premise and secured most of the rooms. However, according to the representative, individuals continue to forced the doors open to the rooms.
Fire officials have determined that someone was residing in the abandoned room. Personal items were found in the room indicating such. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
