VAIL, Colo. (AP) - Fire forced dozens of guests to flee their rooms at a ski resort during the night and caused millions of dollars in damage as overwhelmed firefighters were hampered by a frozen water standpipe.
No guests were reported injured by the blaze that burned for six hours after breaking out late Saturday at the Marriott Vail Mountain Resort. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion and another for smoke inhalation.
Some guests complained of confusion during the evacuation.
The blaze was quickly spotted by a crew that had gone to the hotel for a medical emergency, said Fire Chief John Gulick. However, Vail had to call in help from half a dozen departments as far away as 60 miles. Damage was estimated at $20 million.
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This brings to mind the bit in Norman Rush's _Mating_ in which Denoon proclaims that the only two honorable professions are labor organizing and fire fighting -- am I remembering that correctly?