Hotel fire causes $1 M in damage

SUPERIOR, WIS. — A fast-moving fire at the Superior and Sage Hotel on Hammond Avenue caused around $1 million in damage.

“I threw my boots on, or threw some clothes on, and ran downstairs, got out as soon as possible, and whole building in the middle over there just on fire,” said Cole Boid, guest at the Superior and Sage Hotel.

When firefighters arrived, they found a large exterior fire spreading to the hotel’s eaves, which had been undergoing renovations in recent months.

“They kind of were just surprised, like there was a fire going on. Just didn’t know what the head comes going on, really,” said Boid.

The fire was so out of control that mutual aid was called in from Duluth to provide additional aerial apparatus.

The hotel, formally known as Superior Inn, was a popular, affordable place to stay for not only short-term visitors and contract workers in town, but also people in dire need of a roof over their head.

“This was not the same as the other hotels in Superior,” said Mayor Jim Paine, City of Superior. “It actually served as transitional and crisis housing for a lot of people. A lot of folks are now displaced that really have nowhere else to go.”

For guests who woke up to the fire, they’re just thankful everybody got out of the hotel alive.

“Just make do with what you got now and worry about it later,” said Boid. “Could have been a lot worse.”

The fire was put out around four this morning, which was five hours after firefighters arrived on scene. A cause is under investigation.

The Red Cross says it’s in contact with people displaced by the hotel fire.