Police, firefighters and paramedics from Crystal Lake responded about 3:57 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2022 to an activated fire alarm and a report of the smell of smoke at the Country Inn and Suites Hotel in Crystal Lake, 600 Tracy Trail.
Crystal Lake police officers arrived first and found an unconscious person in the room where the fire originated. The person was transported to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment of injuries related to smoke inhalation.
The two police officers also inhaled smoke during the rescue and were treated and released by paramedics at the scene. Initially, no other injuries were reported.
An initial assessment of the scene indicated that the sprinkler and fire alarm systems had activated in the hotel. The activated alarm and the automatic fire suppression system contributed to saving the life of the room’s occupant, according to the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department.
The origin of the fire appears to be the mattress, but it was initially unknown how the fire started. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department fire investigators.
Mattress fires are known to be caused by careless smoking, but personal electric equipment, such as overheating charging involving covered cell phones are also known to cause mattress fires.
Damage to the hotel room and contents is estimated at $25,000, according to the Crystal Lake Fire Department. Country Inn and Suites Hotel is open for business, as the affected hotel room was isolated, and restoration and repair operations are underway.
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