LAKELAND, Fla. — A fire at the Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites in Lakeland early Friday morning left some displaced disaster victims without a place to stay again.
According to the Lakeland Fire Department, fire crews were called to the hotel around 5:40 a.m. They found an evacuation in progress, audible alarms, and the sprinkler system was on in a second-floor room where the fire started.
The Lakeland Fire Department said the structure "has several existing fire code violations." Before Friday's fire, fire officials were working with the property owners to address the issues. The fire marshal closed the hotel out of "concern for life safety."
Some hotel guests were part of FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program for displaced disaster survivors. They will have to relocate with FEMA's help.
Lakeland Fire said the hotel's owners had not provided an official occupant count as of late Friday morning.
Saturday afternoon, FEMA provided the following statement on the incident:
Our thoughts are with the individuals and families affected by the fire. Today, the FEMA team is again working as fast as possible to contact the more than 40 individuals and families who were temporarily staying on the property as part of the transitional sheltering assistance program. We are grateful for the coordination with our state, local, and voluntary agency partners to help survivors find another temporary place to stay, and to make sure survivors have their immediate needs met. Survivors with questions about what to do next can call 800-621-3362.
“We need to listen to the voice of the people, right?”
Last summer, the Florida Department of Environment Protection considered adding amenities like golf courses, pickleball courts, and hotels to state parks across the state. After public outcry, the plans were shelved, but the fight isn't over for some Florida residents.
