40 evacuated from Carle Place hotel after fire erupts in guest room
The Homewood Suites in Carle Place Tuesday, where a fire forced the evacuation of about 40 people. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp
A fire caused by "unattended cooking" forced the evacuation of a Carle Place hotel on Monday evening, with more than three dozen guests displaced and moved to a nearby hotel, fire officials said.
The Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office said the blaze at the Homewood Suites on Westbury Avenue was reported as a "smoke condition" in a 911 call and an automatic fire alarm notification just after 10 p.m.
About 40 firefighters from Garden City, Mineola, Westbury, Williston Park, Roslyn and Carle Place, under the direction of Carle Place Fire Department Chief William Geddish, evacuated the guests and quickly cleared smoke from the building, fire officials said.
The fire was contained to the room where it started, thanks to the automatic fire sprinkler system, and brought under control in about 20 minutes, officials said.
There were no reported injuries, and officials said about 40 guests were moved to the nearby Springhill Suites.
In a statement, Nassau Chief Fire Marshal Michael F. Uttaro said one hotel room suffered "serious damage" and an inspector from the Town of North Hempstead Building Department was evaluating the damage.
The initial investigation by fire marshals and detectives from the Nassau County police arson/bomb squad indicated the cause was unattended cooking in the room where the fire originated, Uttaro said.
John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.
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