A man is accused of arson after a fire broke out in a third-floor room at a Southern Pines hotel on Wednesday night.
Southern Pines Fire Department was dispatched shortly before midnight to a fire alarm activation at The Jefferson Inn on West New Hampshire Avenue.Â
According to fire officials on scene, while units were en route to the location of the fire alarm, it was upgraded to a structure fire after a caller on scene reported seeing flames and smoke coming from under the door of a room.
When the first units arrived on the scene, the sprinkler system was already activated, and an evacuation was in progress. During a quick search operation, a male was located in the room with the active fire and was brought out to safety.
No one else in the building was injured, and the remaining occupants had all made it out safely.
The fire was contained in one room due to the working sprinkler system and the quick response of fire personnel.
The man was rescued from the fire and was arrested at the scene on a charge of first-degree arson.
Responding units to the scene were the Southern Pines Fire Department, Aberdeen Fire Department, Pinehurst Fire Department, Cypress Pointe Fire Department, Southern Pines Police Department, Moore County EMS, and NC Highway Patrol.
~Article, photo and video by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Daniel Gwyn. Daniel has been reporting breaking news for Sandhills Sentinel since 2020.
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