Child injured, roof collapsed after fire at Super 8 Motel in Vandalia

VANDALIA — UPDATE (8:50 p.m. 8/27):

A spokesperson for the state fire marshal has provided an update on a large fire at a Super 8 Motel in Vandalia Sunday morning.

The fire was under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau, but they have since closed their case, according to Andy Ellinger, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Commerce.

The State Fire Marshal provided support and guidance to Vandalia Fire Department’s new investigator and cleared the scene, Ellinger said.

The fire is now under investigation by the Vandalia Fire Department.

>> PHOTOS: Multiple departments respond to fire at Super 8 Motel in Vandalia

INITIAL REPORT:

A motel is damaged after a three-alarm fire in Vandalia early Sunday morning.

Multiple fire departments responded to the Super 8 Motel on National Road at 4:15 a.m. on initial reports of a fire alarm but discovered smoke and fire on the west side of the building, the City of Vandalia Division of Fire wrote on social media.

Shortly after firefighters got on the scene, a small section of the roof over the pool and drive-thru collapsed. Some firefighters assisted police in evacuating the building while others began working to fight the fire on the third floor.

Vandalia Fire Chief Chad Follick said it took crews on the scene about 30-40 minutes to get the fire under control.

Follick also told News Center 7 that a child staying at the motel sustained a “very minor” leg injury during the evacuation.

The motel’s working fire alarm system was an important factor in the response.

“The fire alarm system that we helped them put into place here was key in making sure that this building wasn’t a complete loss and nobody lost their life,” Follick said.

Mutual aid was provided by Butler Township, Huber Heights, Dayton, Harrison Township, Bethel, Tipp City, and Troy.

The fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau, according to Andy Ellinger, Public Information Officer for the Ohio Department of Commerce.

As News Center 7 previously reported, this motel reopened less than two weeks ago after being closed for nearly a year. The new owners told us on Aug. 16 that they hoped the reopening would “chart and new path” and that they would not be repeating the mistakes of the previous owners.

We will continue to provide updates on this developing story.

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