Fire sprinkler system at hotel found drained; about 100 guests forced to leave

About 100 guests at the APM Inn and Suites at 431 Dual Highway in Hagerstown were forced from their rooms Monday after the hotel was condemned for alleged violations related to fire safety and heating, according to a city official.

Area social service workers, including those from the Washington County Community Action Council, responded to the hotel along with other city officials to help those affected by the condemnation.

The situation developed earlier in the day when the Hagerstown Fire Department responded to the inn for a report of a fire, said Paul Fulk, neighborhood services manager for the city. There was no fire but people were smoking in a hallway, he said.

How were the violations found?

While there, fire investigators discovered the inn's fire alarm and sprinkler system were not functioning and temporary heating units being used there didn't meet city regulations, Fulk said. It was determined the fire sprinkler system was drained in December and was still not operational, he said.

Two businesses that operate on the first floor, Vibe Studio hair salon and Jpmino coffee shop, were also forced to evacuate, Fulk said. A liquor store and Hagerstown Family Diner, which sit next to the hotel on the property, were not affected.

New type of hotel for Hagerstown: 'Multi-sensory experience:' 25-room 'boutique hotel' planned for Hagerstown

City officials were there between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. to assess conditions in the hotel and decided it had to be condemned, Fulk said.

"We're going back at 1 p.m. today to make sure all the rooms are clear," Fulk said Monday morning.

Fulk said 67 rooms were being occupied at the time, which meant about 100 people were displaced.

Geordie Newman of the Washington County Community Action Council said he was notified of the situation at about 8:30 a.m.

Where were some of the people sent?

"I immediately went over there to talk to the management," said Newman, who wanted to find out who was staying there and if any of them were long-term tenants.

Newman said he an others set up a "triage" area to meet people as they were coming out of the hotel to assess their needs. Some were just staying over night, but others were staying there long term, he said.

Herald Mail series: The two sides of downtown Hagerstown. Which one will prevail?

Horizon Goodwill Industries helped some people with accommodations and some went to other APM hotels in Martinsburg, W.Va., and Winchester, Va., Newman said.

CAC helped at least one person who was preparing to leave the hotel for another place to stay. Newman said his organization was able to help the person with the individual's first month's rent for the new place.

"No one was going to end up homeless. It was just a matter of who could go where," Newman said.

Owners of the hotel could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.

How long will the hotel be condemned?

Fulk said the hotel will remain condemned until issues at the business are resolved.

Hagerstown Fire Marshal Dale Fishack was among the city officials investigating the hotel. Fishack said Monday he couldn't comment because he was working on the case and added that the city would be releasing a statement later.

Newman said the affordable rates of the hotel's rooms is attractive to people having difficulty finding a place to stay due to credit problems, or maybe a criminal history.

Emotional goodbye: Emily Keller's colleagues give advice for new role on her last night as Hagerstown mayor

Individuals can stay there for $50 a night, and must add $5 for each additional person, Newman said.

"There's no place cheaper than that in town," Newman said.

Economic development officials from the city also responded to help businesses affected by the condemnation.

Vibe Studio and Jpmino are on the ground floor of the hotel, but have private entrances.

Vibe Studio owner Julie Banzhoff said she was surprised by the condemnation because she was not aware of some of the fire suppression issues in the hotel. In the meantime, Banzoff said she is going to operate her business out of a friend's shop known as Hairendipity in Mulberry Lofts on North Mulberry Street.

Banzhoff said she lost heating and air conditioning in her shop about two years ago and was able to secure a new system for her business. She said there still hasn't been heating or air conditioning in some parts of the hotel such as the lobby, and she has complained about the issues.

"They've been aware of the problems, they just haven't done anything," Banzhoff said.

Jpmino couldn't be reached for comment.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: APM Inn and Suites hotel in Hagersown condemned for fire violations