Two-alarm motel ruled accidental

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A motel fire at the Traveler's Inn at Chesapeake Street and East Ocean View in Norfolk was ruled accidental by Chief Harry Worley with Norfolk Fire Department. Worley says the fire was electrical in nature.

The fire has been extinguished, but Capt. Hicks with Norfolk Fire Department said upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke from the second floor where the fire appears to have started in the utility corridor.

Elizabeth Pina was alerted to the smoke and flames by a relative.

"She ran out and started banging on the door, 'Get out the room, get out the room! There's a fire, get out the room!.' The only thing we could grab was like a coat or something. That's it," Pina said.

Worley said 45 people were staying at the motel at the time, but all have been accounted. Because of the heavy smoke, all firefighters were removed from the second floor.

At this time, Chesapeake Street is blocked off at the scene and firefighters are using aerial attacks to knock down the fire.

Crews arrived to the fire around 10:20 a.m. and continued to fight the fire into the afternoon.

The Red Cross activated a disaster team to assist displaced residents at the Traveler's Inn and arrived on site to provide food and determine needs for lodging, food and clothing assistance.

Hicks says 12-15 units were destroyed. The occupants of those room will not be allowed back inside.

The motel, built in 1972, has 33 rooms. Lori Crouch with the City of Norfolk says the motel was inspected on Oct. 5, 2011 and no issues were reported.

The affected half of the building will be raised once Dominion Virginia Power and Virginia Natural Gas says it's is safe to do so.