At 4:29 a.m. this morning the Bismarck Fire Department responded to a fire call at the Bismarck Motor Hotel located at 2301 E Main Ave. Everyone was evacuated from the motel and no injuries to residents have been reported. The Red Cross and Bismarck Burleigh Public Health are providing temporary shelter operations at Charity Lutheran Church, 120 Aspen Ave., Bismarck, N.D. Residents of the Bismarck Motor Hotel who are in need of food, clothing, shelter, and emergency medical assistance may call the Red Cross at 223-6700. Approximately 35 Bismarck Hotel residents sought temporary shelter early on at Kroll’s Diner.
“The first priority was to assure the safety of the residents. Residents were evacuated and primary and secondary searches of every room were conducted to assure everyone was safe and out of the building. The residents were evacuated safely and no injuries to residents have been reported,” said Fire Chief Joel Boespflug.
When fire crews arrived the fire appeared to be in the upper roof section. The fire is contained and was primarily located in the roof area of the northwest section of the building. Heavy damage was sustained in the west wing of the building. The fire was controlled before it could move into the adjacent sections. The Mandan Fire Department assisted and provided mutual aid. One Bismarck fire fighter was injured, treated and released. The fire is contained and fire fighters remain on scene.
Main Avenue is barricaded from 19th to 24th Street. Motorists should not drive around the barricades and are asked to take alternate routes. This area of Main Avenue is expected to be closed for the remainder of today.
At this time the cause of the fire is still unknown.