New Orleans Firefighters Injured in 4-Alarm Hotel Blaze

Two New Orleans firefighters suffered smoke-related injuries battling a four-alarm blaze at a hotel in the French Quarter on Thursday evening, according to fire officials.

Authorities were called to the fire about 7:50 p.m. at the Quarter House Resort at 129 Chartres St., according to NOFD's union president Aaron Mischler. One firefighter who was inside the building attempting to put out the fire was overcome by smoke while going up a stairwell.

Mischler said authorities had to use a ladder to rescue the second firefighter through a fifth-floor window.

As of 9:15 p.m., firefighters were still trying to douse the blaze, but Mischler said his agency was confident it could keep the fire contained to the hotel where it started. Mischler said firefighters were using two devices mounted on large ladders to spray water down on the building from above, and fire stops were expected to keep the blaze from jumping to neighboring properties.

Photos on social media and from a reporter showed a cloud of smoke swirling above buildings near the intersection around 8:10 p.m.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. The business has not been open to guests since the coronavirus pandemic caused shutdowns for many businesses, Mischler said.

According to the hotel's website, the building that houses the Quarter House pre-dates the Civil War and was designed by famed New Orleans architect James Gallier in 1831.

Most of the structures on the grounds were built prior to 1840, the website said.

Before becoming the Quarter House Hotel, the building housed condominiums, according to Times-Picayune clippings.

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