AVON PARK — An unattended pot left cooking on a stove in a third-floor utility room caused some alarm Monday evening at the Hotel Jacaranda, in Avon Park.

The hotel and restaurant was temporarily closed while as many as 10 firefighters arrived on scene about 5:30 p.m., after smoke was reported.
“The sprinkler system contained the fire like it seems to always do in this building,” said Avon Park Fire Chief Terry Feickert on Monday, while standing outside the hotel on the Main Street side.

The fire was limited to a third-floor laundry, break room, that contains a stove and washing equipment, Feickert said.

There was additional water damage to the second floor below the fire due to the sprinkler system water leaking down.
Feickert has been full-time with the Avon Park Fire Department since 1979. He said he’s fought about nine or 10 fires there over the years and the sprinkler system always came through.
“If there’s ever been a poster building for sprinkler systems, the Hotel Jacaranda is it,” Feickert said.

The hotel was built in 1925 and houses students from South Florida Community College as well as other guests.

The fire started on the dormitory side of the hotel.

“The biggest concern is if fire gets into the walls where there is no sprinkler system,” Feickert said. “I’m always concerned with fire when you have a large gathering of people, such as here with a hotel and restaurant.

The hotel and restaurant was evacuated until the all clear could be given by the city fire inspector.

Fire officials cleared the scene at 7 p.m.