Fire at Shamrock Hotel devastating for locals
Posted Aug 28, 2012 5:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Broken glass lays under empty window frames and the strong smell of smoke still lingers outside a southeast Calgary landmark.
Fire gutted two suites and thick black smoke billowed through the Shamrock Hotel in Ramsay Tuesday morning.
Everyone got out alive, but two people were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and half a dozen had to be rescued by firefighters. One man who tried to use a fire escape found it chained up and firefighters had to throw him some boltcutters so he could climb to safety.
Darcy Klendenning, Promotions Director at the hotel, says that fire escape was decommissioned years ago and is in a part of the building not used and had cleared previous safety inspections.
Some locals say they will miss the pub at the hotel where they would meet up for drinks and to socialize. Lynne says this bar was her watering hole.
“There is never any problems here, it is a lot of fun, lots of good bands, lots of good people. Everybody knows everybody, its like a Cheers and we are going to miss it for awhile.”
Klendenning says the bar will be open for Saturday.
