Patrick Shillito
Staff Writer
11/10/2009

    What turned out as a routine smoke check at about 1:18 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 blew up into a fully involved structure fire that destroyed roughly half of the America’s Best Inn located at 2705 Main St.
    A large portion of Main Street was shut down while fire engines, personnel and equipment from virtually every fire agency in the county were dispatched. Susanville Fire Department Battalion Chief Ted Friedline said firefighters were still trying to mop up the damage from the fire at 9 a.m., Monday, Nov. 9.

    Friedline said connected attic space that wrapped around the front of the building was still being inspected. The facade, which was just above each of the motel rooms, fell off when it caught fire. It created a small wall of fire that kept firefighters from going into many of the rooms while the fire still burned.
    Firefighters were able to keep the fire from consuming about half of the motel. All structures in the immediate vicinity of the motel were evacuated while firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night. SFD Fire Captain Rusty Tracy said it would probably take the majority of Monday to clean up the mess made from the fire.
    Friedline said as of 7:45 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. One firefighter, whose name was not released, was taken up to Banner Lassen Medical Center for complications due to smoke inhalation before being released.