Dryer fire at Radisson causes $30,000 in damages

Menomonee Falls - A fire that broke out last week at the Radisson Hotel in Menomonee Falls resulted in $30,000 in damages.

A malfunctioning dryer in the rear of the building, W14750 Main Street, is believed to have caught fire at 8:02 a.m. Sept. 25, according to Menomonee Falls Fire Chief Jeffrey Hevey.

An activated sprinkler system kept the fire contained before crews from the Menomonee Falls Fire Department extinguished it completely.

Two Radisson employees were checked for minor smoke inhalation and treated on scene. They did not have to be transported to a hospital. Between 10-12 guests and about 25 employees were evacuated and fire crews checked the hotel rooms to ensure people in the hotel went outside as smoke filtered onto the first, third, fourth and fifth floors. The smoke was ventilated from the building.

The large industrial dryer can hold anywhere from five to six dozen towels, Hevey said.

"It's about ten times the size of the dryer you have at home," he said.

It is believed to have caught fire while operating with items inside.

- Danielle Switalski