Hotel Fire Ignited by Space Heater Results in 1 Death and 7 Injuries in Mid-City

On Friday, February 7, 2020, an unfortunate fire took the life of one person and left seven others injured. So far, investigators believe that the early-morning fire in a Mid-City neighborhood hotel was ignited by a space heater.

According to reports, emergency crews responded to reports of a fire at the two-story building, Venice Hotel, located in the 8600 block of Venice Boulevard; the fire started just after 2 a.m. according to the fire department.

When the firefighters arrived on the scene, both smoke and fire filled the first floor of the building. Aerial footage of the incident also shows the second floor engulfed in flames, flames that actually burned through the ceiling. Residents were trying to escape; some were going out of their windows. Firefighters’ efforts included both quickly addressing the flames as well as helping residents evacuate.

It ultimately took more than 100 firefighters approximately 40 minutes to extinguish the fire. But even after the fire had been put out, the devastation was imminent.

One man, later identified as 62-year-old Paul Bisland, was found inside the building; unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Many others were transported to local hospitals. One man remained in critical condition. Two others, a man and a woman, were transported in grave condition and later updated to serious condition. Another man was determined to be in fair condition.

Another man, who declined to be transported to a local hospital, was assessed at the scene for a minor injury. A firefighter was also evaluated for a respiratory issue, although it was determined to be non-life threatening. Another woman, victim of the fire, was later discovered; she had allegedly jumped or fallen from a second-story window during the incident and was transported to a hospital in a private vehicle. Her condition is serious, but she is expected to recover.

What caused the fire? According to preliminary investigations, the fire is believed to have started because of a space heater. That is, combustible materials were left too close to a space heater, resulting in the fire igniting. According to the fire department, the constant heat emitted by space heaters is enough to ignite combustible materials.

Without a doubt, this devastating incident has shaken the community. It has also left the community with many questions. Some of the questions include the following:

• Could the incident have been prevented?
• Could the hotel owner have done something differently to reduce the risk of a fire?
• Did the hotel have a fire alarm, smoke alarm, or sprinkler system?
• Did the hotel have the appropriate fire exits or escapes?

Although the fire has been determined to be accidental, it could have possibly. If you or a member of your family were harmed because of the fire in the incident discussed above, you might have grounds to pursue a claim. Depending on the details surrounding the incident, you and your family might have grounds to take legal action.

If you would like to learn more about the possibility of pursuing a claim for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience.

At Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims – including those arising from fire incidents in hotels and motels, for example. If you would like to discuss your claim with the experts at our law firm, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience. Our knowledgeable attorneys are ready to provide you with all the information that you need to pursue your claim against the party or entity liable for the harm that you or your family suffered.

The Danger Associated with Fires in Hotels

As explained above, the fire is believed to have started because of a space heater – a space heater that was too close to combustible items (which could include clothing, curtains, bedding, etc.). The fire ignited in the early hours of the morning, at approximately 2 a.m. Most people in the hotel were likely already sleeping.

Without a doubt, fires could result in burn injuries as well as smoke inhalation injuries. Burn injuries could range in severity – different layers of the skin, nerves, muscles, and even bones could be severely affected. The inhalation of the hot, thick smoke resulting from a raging fire can cause internal burns of the respiratory system; nasal passages, airways, and even the lungs could be burned. Smoke inhalation could also result in oxygen deprivation, which could cause unconsciousness and, if prolonged, brain damage as well as death.

In the frustration and desperation that affected parties were living at the time of the fire, some of them decided to jump from their windows. Doing so might have resulted in a number of broken bones.

In addition to physical injuries, the parties directly affected by the fire also likely suffered a number of other damages. Property damage is likely to be significant, especially considering that many of the affected parties were long-term residents of the hotel.

Who is Liable?

Who is liable for the harm or damages resulting from a hotel fire? In general, hotel owners have a duty to ensure that their guests are safe while on their premises. They must ensure that there are no risks on the premises that could potentially harm their guests. When they fail to address the risks on their property that could contribute to incidents, hotel owners could be liable.

Some possible hazards that could contribute to incidents include the following:

• Space heaters that are locked onto certain surfaces. In many hotels and motels, small appliances are locked onto surfaces to prevent theft. If a space heater, for example, can only be used on a table that is close to curtains, this could represent a fire hazard.
• No smoke detectors in the room. The Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 requires that hotels and motels have smoke detectors in each room. Smoke detectors can warn hotel/motel guests of the presence of smoke and the possibility of fire, allowing them to exit the premises promptly.
• No emergency exit plans. Hotels and motels are required to make floorplan information as well as emergency exit plan information available to guests. By failing to provide this information to guests, hotel owners are putting their guests in danger.
• Emergency exits are blocked off. Emergency exits should never be blocked off. If emergency exits are blocked, it could be impossible for guests to escape the flames. By failing to ensure that emergency exits are clear, they are putting their guests at risk of harm.

Based on the situation – if the negligent actions of the hotel or motel owner contributed to the hazard that led to the harm/damages suffered – the hotel or motel owner might be liable. To learn more about establishing liability, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm at your earliest convenience.

What Can Affected Parties Do?

What can you do if you and members of your family were affected by a fire at a hotel or motel? Depending on the details surrounding the incident, you might have grounds to sue. As explained above, hotel owners could be liable for the harm associated with fires on their premises under some circumstances; therefore, affected parties might have grounds to sue.

If hotel guests made complaints of safety hazards, copies of these complaints could be beneficial in holding the hotel liable, since copies of complaints could prove that the hotel owner was aware of the hazards. Photos of the hazards would also be beneficial. However, considering that this evidence was likely destroyed in the fire, affected parties should simply seek legal assistance immediately to further explore the possibility of taking legal action against the hotel owner.

Could You Recover Compensation?

If you sue and reach a successful claim outcome, you could be eligible to recover monetary compensation for the harm/damages that you and your family suffered. What type of compensation could you be eligible to recover?

Based on the details surrounding your claim, you could be eligible to recover compensation for some of the following:

• Medical costs
• Lost income
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages
• Relocation costs

There is no guarantee regarding the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive; therefore, you should meet with an attorney immediately to learn more about the compensation available for your claim. To learn more about what you could recover, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm immediately. Our fire incident attorneys are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover the compensation that you are rightfully owed.

The Statute of Limitations

As explained above, affected victims and their families might have grounds to take legal action against hotels. However, there is only a short length of time available for affected parties to sue. In general, affected parties are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, which establishes a two-year deadline. In other words, affected parties typically have only two years to file their claims. Failing to file on time could result in losing the right to sue. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the deadline that applies to your claim, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm as soon as possible.

Contact Normandie Law Firm Today

Did you or a member of your family suffer harm because of the fire that erupted in the Mid-City hotel mentioned above? Were you and your family harmed after a fire at any other hotel or motel? If so, you might have grounds to take legal action. Depending on the details surrounding the incident and the harm that you suffered, you could be eligible to file a claim and even recover monetary compensation. If you would like to learn more about your right to take legal action, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience.

At Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims, including fire incident claims. Whether you suffered injuries or a member of your family lost his or her life, you can trust that our experts will evaluate your claim and provide you with the legal assistance that you need to hold any liable parties or entities accountable for the harm that you or your family suffered. If you would like to discuss your claim with the experts at our firm, do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience.

At our firm, we are dedicated to always remaining accessible to the parties interested in pursuing legal action. We acknowledge that approaching a firm can often be intimidating because of the fear of legal expenses. Therefore, we offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you all the information that you need to either start or continue your claim against the party or entity liable for the harm that you or your family suffered. To learn more about how you could benefit from our free consultations and free second opinions, do not hesitate to contact our law firm today.

Our firm offers a Zero-Fee guarantee; our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients will never have to worry about having to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Because our firm also offers a strict contingency structure, our clients will not be required to pay anything until after reaching a successful claim outcome. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything whatsoever.

Are you ready to discuss your claim with the attorneys at our law firm? If so, do not hesitate to contact our fire injury experts at Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible.

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