Despite `Substantial Blast,` Few Injuries in Ky. Motel Explosion

Sept. 08--The Fairfield Inn Marriott on Lakecrest Circle resembled a bombed-out wartime target Monday morning after one wing partially collapsed in an overnight gas explosion.

A wall of one wing was essentially gone, with bedding and furniture hanging from upper floors, and debris covered several vehicles parked next to the building.

The explosion was triggered after a car struck the building shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday, causing a gas leak that ignited a few minutes later, authorities said.

Battalion Chief Joe Best said firefighters were dispatched to the motel about 6:15 p.m. Sunday in response to a reported gas leak, and the first units arrived within minutes. The explosion occurred about 6:23 p.m., Best said.

No one was seriously injured.

Guests, alerted by fire alarms and a motel manager who went through the building knocking on doors, evacuated the motel just before the explosion. Other guests had gone to dinner at restaurants around town, and they returned to find the motel devastated.

At least two firefighters suffered minor injuries, officials said.

Bruce Bremer of Eau Claire, Wis., said flying glass struck his leg and arm just moments after he and his wife got out of the motel. He said he was standing in the parking lot when he saw a firefighter start to run away from the building. Bremer said he started running himself and was then struck.

"If it had not been for the fire alarms, there would have been dead people," he said Monday morning.

Fire officials said Monday morning that it remained unclear what ignited the leaking natural gas.

Guests Bob and Margo Hartmann of Chesterton, Ind., said they checked into room 220 on Sunday afternoon, then went to dinner. They didn't realize anything had happened until they returned about 8 p.m., Bob Hartmann said.

On Monday morning, he pointed to a bed dangling from the second floor of the motel.

"I think that's our bed," Hartmann said. "Our room is gone, along with our belongings."

Fairfield guests who were displaced by the explosion spent Sunday night at the Courtyard Keeneland/Airport Motel across the street. About 60 people evacuated the Fairfield Inn, according to initial reports.

Best, the fire battalion chief, said a "trouble alarm" was triggered when the car struck the motel building. Debbie Tyler, the manager on duty, went to investigate and sounded the alarm, he said.

Tyler then went room to room, alerting people to get out of the building, officials said.

"She deserves a lot of credit for getting everybody out," Best said Monday.

On Monday morning, several guests complimented Tyler and Lexington police and firefighters, saying they prevented what could have been a much more serious disaster. Guests also said firefighters brought luggage and personal items out of the motel.

"Debbie Tyler was wonderful; she saved a lot of people," Bob Hartman said. "The Lexington police and fire were tremendous. They answered all our questions; I can't say enough about what they did."

"The best thing is," Hartmann said, "no one was inside the building."

Fire crews remained at the scene early Monday.

Fire department Maj. Lee Hayden said the crews were monitoring the wreckage and waiting for Marriott representatives to arrive to discuss the next step.

Hayden said damage mainly was limited to the one wing nearest the gas leak. The section contained 24 rooms, all of which were heavily damaged. Only seven of were occupied the time, he said.

"It was a substantial blast," Hayden said. "You're looking at 24 rooms that have been affected. The rest of the building was not affected, other than the gas being cut off."

He said the explosion pointed up the importance of paying attention to fire alarms when they go off, and not assuming they are only a drill or false alarm.

"As you can see here, if people had ignored that alarm, this could have been a very different situation," he said. "That's one of the things we try to teach motels and apartment complexes. When you hear an alarm, get out."

Bruce Bremer, who had a large bandage just below his right knee Monday morning, said his car, a recently bought Mercury Grand Marquis, remained covered in rubble from the building.

He and his wife were on their way to a vacation in Williamsburg, Va., and they planned to continue the trip, he said.

First, though, they'll have to find out whether their car is safe to drive.

Jim Warren: (859) 231-3255.

Copyright 2014 - Lexington Herald-Leader