Fire tore through the Red Lion Hotel in Kelso, Washington, on Saturday afternoon, March 7, triggering a multi-unit emergency response and sending a thick plume of smoke over the city. As crews worked the scene, officials had not yet released a full account of injuries or what sparked the blaze.
According to KATU, the hotel was reported on fire as of 3 p.m., with the station publishing viewer-submitted photos from the scene. KATU also reported that fire crews were heading to the area and that the station had contacted Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and local utilities for more details, which were still limited at the time of publication.
Fire Response and Local Jurisdiction
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue is the district that serves Kelso and the surrounding Longview area, and it maintains a news feed and social channels for incident updates. The department’s website also lists its stations and community resources, which residents often check during major incidents like this one.
Where the Blaze Happened
The Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center, listed at 510 Kelso Drive, is a full-service hotel and conference property in Kelso, according to the City of Kelso. As KATU reported in its early coverage, officials had not yet released information on the cause of the fire or whether anyone was injured.
What to Expect Next
This remains a developing story. Officials typically release more information once a scene is secured and investigators can safely begin their work. We will continue to monitor the Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue news feed and local reporting for official updates and will update this story when new details are made public.
