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04/14/2007: "Fire Codes Prevent A Potential Hotel Fire"

(Firefighters at the Friday Harbor House hotel)

Strict restrictions on the use of inflammable products in commercial buildings helped to prevent what could have been another major fire Friday in downtown Friday Harbor. Guests at the Friday Harbor House hotel had -for whatever reason- placed two cushions from the room against the propane fire place. When the guests then left the left the room, they also left the fireplace on, and the left the cushions against fireplace.

Sometime later when housecleaning showed up and opened the door to the room, they were greeted by billowing smoke. This resulted in a 911 phone call, and one can imagine what happen next: smoke filled room in a hotel in the middle of town.

First responders were quickly on the scene, located the source of the problem, removed the cushions, pack of their equipment, and returned to their normal day job.