Numerous area fire departments responded to a request Walnut Fire to help battle the flames and supply water for a fire at the Super Eight Motel, near Walnut. The blaze at 2109 Antique City Drive on the north side of Interstate 80 happened at around Noon, Saturday. Walnut Fire Chief Justin Tooley told KJAN News there was heavy smoke and flames coming of the northwest corner of the main entrance area on the second floor.

Tooley said the fire was contained to the main upstairs hallway. He said it appears the flames started in the attic, and that it initially appears the fire was electrical in nature. The front desk clerk at the motel told KJAN News he thinks the fire started because there has been problems with a fan on the second floor.

The man said he told the owner a couple of weeks ago that they had received complaints about the fan, that it was not cooling the area. The owner said he would have someone come to fix the problem, but this (Saturday) morning, it was still creating heat.

Ric Hanson/photos

No injuries were reported. Units on the scene included: Atlantic Fire and Rescue (Ladder truck & support units); tanker trucks from Avoca, Hancock, Marne, and Minden; Harlan Fire and Rescue, Medivac Ambulance, the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency and law enforcement. An Excessive Heat Warning was in effect at the time of the call. The temperature at noon was 88 degrees with a Heat Index of 100 degrees. Fortunately, there was a strong south/southwesterly wind to aid in that made the heat a little more bearable for those having to wear their turnout gear.

The last time a fire took place at the same motel (but in a different building) was in late April, 2018.