Calgary's Shamrock Hotel charged with fire violations

The owner oftheShamrock Hotel in Calgaryis facing several charges after agroup of people had to berescued when the building caught fire Aug. 28.

A total of 11 people were forced to leave the hotel and three people were transported to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, according to the Calgary Fire Department.

Fire crews were also forced to break hotel windows to get fiveguests out of the second floorwith a ladder aftertheywere spottedbanging on windows and calling for help.

One personhad told CBC News that he had to be rescued because the fire exit was chained.

Shamrock Hotel spokesperson Darcy Clendenning said in August that the locked fire escape was decommissioned as a fire escape five years ago when the restaurant on the second floor of the hotel was closed.

He said it was always the fire exit for the restaurant and never for hotel room patrons.

Clendenningclaimed at the time that all other fire exits were clear and up to code, and the Shamrock had recently passed a fire inspection.

But as a result of the fire, which is still being investigated by the Calgary police arson unit,the fire departmentcompleted an inspection and found severalviolations of the Alberta Fire Code.

Owner Louisa K. Hois now facing six charges all together: four charges for fire separation doors in the stairwells not being closed; one charge for failing to maintain the fire separation doors; and one charge for failing to ensure the means of egress, including the fire escape, is maintained in good repair and free of obstructions.

Ho is expected to appearin court on Nov. 21.