Rooftop Fire Prompts Evacuation at Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel

Guests and staff were evacuated from the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina in downtown Tampa, Florida, Thursday night after a fire broke out on the hotel's roof.

The Tampa Bay Times reported the blaze started around 8 p.m. after a fire ignited in the leftover debris from repairs workers made earlier in the day.

Tampa Fire Rescue responded and was able to contain the fire after workers at the hotel failed to keep it under control with extinguishers. Crews were able to put the fire out in a little over a half an hour and guests were allowed to return to their rooms by 9:20 p.m.

Earlier tonight, there was a fire in a mechanical area of our roof. No injuries have been reported. (Tweet 1/3)

— Marriott Waterside (@MarrWaterside) January 27, 2017

Guests and employees have returned to the hotel, and normal business operations have resumed. (Tweet 2/3)

— Marriott Waterside (@MarrWaterside) January 27, 2017

We're grateful for the assistance provided by the brave men and women of the Tampa Fire Department. (Tweet 3/3)

— Marriott Waterside (@MarrWaterside) January 27, 2017

Boasting 750 rooms, the four-star Tampa Marriott Waterside is the city's largest hotel, prompting Tampa Fire Rescue to call for a three-alarm response out of caution.

"It looks a lot worse than it was," Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Jason Penny told the Times.

Penny also told the Times that the fire never reached the hotel's interior and that no injuries were reported.

Called 911. Fire crews are here, but the @Marriott is on fire in downtown #tampa. Praying everyone is ok. pic.twitter.com/keMO7LBLZR

— Christie Post (@christiepost) January 27, 2017

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