Earlier in April, firefighters responded to a motel fire in Newport Beach that started without warning.

On Tuesday, April 10, at approximately 5:30 in the morning, firefighters responded to a fire at the Pine Knot Motel on West Coast Highway. According to The Orange County Register, the fire took almost two and a half hours to extinguish, with firefighters putting the blaze completely out by 8 am. Sources claim that the crews had the fire under control by 7 am, but it took an extra hour to get it completely snuffed out.

“Upon arrival, firefighters found flames and heavy smoke coming from two of the twelve motel rooms,” according to a quote in The OC Register by Matt Brisbois, a Newport Beach Fire Department life-safety specialist.

When the firefighters arrived, two out of the 12 rooms were ablaze, and soon the fire spread to three more rooms. The fire damaged a total of five rooms, yet there was smoke damage to all 12.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “more than 40 firefighters from Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and the Orange County Fire Authority assisted in fighting the blaze.”

The Newport Beach Police stated that all of the lanes heading west on the W. Coast Highway were closed while the fire was being extinguished.

Authorities claim that everyone was able to get out safely even though the building was occupied, and the fire crew assisted in helping one person escape the fire. Firefighters also reportedly saved three dogs from the burning building.

Hotel and motel fires result in $76 million in property loss each year, and the Pine Knot is no exception. The damage to the building was extensive, but it is unknown to what extent can it be salvaged.

The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation at this time. According to multiple sources, there were no injuries.