An early morning fire at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa necessitated a rapid evacuation yesterday as flames took hold in an electrical room. St. Johns County Fire Rescue reported to Action News Jax that the blaze began around 4 a.m. Although no guest accommodations were impacted, the incident required medical attention for one hotel employee due to smoke inhalation.
The response teams were able to quickly control the situation, having responded to a call at 4:15 a.m., and they successfully extinguished the fire in what was deemed to be the main hotel's mechanical room. Despite the alarming circumstances, the evacuation was primarily a precautionary measure. The hotel later confirmed to First Coast News that the affected area was not accessible by guests and that most facilities remained unaffected.
Following the event, an official statement from the Sawgrass Marriott highlighted the lack of disruption to the spa, guest villas, and Cabana Beach Club, while underscoring the near return to full operational status of the main building. The statement, as it was provided to First Coast News, stressed the prioritization of safety for both guests and staff, saying, "The safety of our guests and employees is always our top priority, and we are grateful to the fire department for their response."
The official Facebook page of St. Johns County Fire Rescue also shared details about the incident, confirming that the hotel was evacuated as a preventative measure and that one person was treated for minor smoke inhalation but refused further medical transport. Their post included a sentiment of gratitude for the support received from tactical units, as they worked to fully inspect and secure the fire-stricken area. The hotel is safe and secure, they reassured the public in their post, a statement that mirrors Sawgrass's own articulation of events to St. Johns County Fire Rescue Facebook.
