Early this morning, a fire broke out at the Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites in Lakeland, displacing residents who had previously been affected by last year's hurricanes. As reported by FOX 13 News, the Lakeland Fire Department arrived on the scene around 5:40 a.m. to find that an evacuation was already taking place, with alarms sounding and sprinklers activated. The fire, which began on the second floor of the building at 4141 S. Florida Avenue, necessitated that occupants seek alternative accommodations.
Reports from the scene indicated that no other occupants were in the room where the fire originated, although a dog was found dead. The Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites had been cited for fire code violations prior to the incident, contributing to the decision to prohibit guests from remaining on the premises—a move necessitated as much by bureaucratic stipulations as a regard for physical safety. As a result, guests were allowed back into the hotel briefly to collect their belongings but were not allowed to stay, according to information provided by WFLA.
The hotel was serving as a shelter for disaster survivors through the FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program. Affected individuals are now tasked with locating other TSA-participating hotels for accommodation. "According to FEMA, it is the responsibility of the survivor to secure accommodations that meet their needs," as reported by WFLA, highlighting the need for displaced victims to actively seek out new living arrangements.
For those needing assistance, FEMA has provided resources for locating other hotels participating in the TSA program. Resources can be accessed online or by calling 1-800-621-3362, as detailed on the Tampa Free Press. Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal, and inquiries regarding the incident are to be directed to their office. The occupancy count of the hotel at the time of the fire has not yet been provided by hotel officials.
