An early evening fire tonight (7.10.18) damaged several rooms at the Relax Inn, 3645 Canada Road in Lakeland, according to the Shelby County Fire Department (SCFD).
Brent Perkins, public information officer for the SCFD said there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.
Mr. Perkins said, ”A dispatch for a commercial fire was sent at 6:47 p.m. and the crew from engine 65 noted visible smoke from the fire station. They were on scene at 6:49 p.m. and laid pre-connected attack hoses immediately to begin fighting the fire which was reported to be 25% involved.
“At the same time firefighters were also executing a primary search for any potential inured people. They found none.
“An aggressive attack was led by SCFDs lieutenant and his firefighters which resulted in a fast knock down of the increasing fire. They were then backed up by Engine 71 from Arlington.
“So effective was the fire-fighting that additional engine companies which were rushing to the scene were disregarded and returned to service.”
Mr. Perkins said the cause of the fire may be electrical but is still under investigation.
Anna Stonestreet Smith, a Lakeland resident who owns Anna Stonestreet Photography, was on the scene just after the fire was extinguished and shot pictures of the damage.
She spoke to an occupant of one of the rooms who said he lost everything.
Less than a week ago, on July 4, a fire damaged a home in North Lakeland.
