Two people checked for smoke inhalation symptoms after large trash bin fire near Virginia Inn on West Sixth Street

Cause of fire 'undetermined,' fire marshal says

fire Crews respond to a trash fire Thursday morning at the Virginia Inn, 2903 Sixth St. The fire, reported shortly after 9 a.m., was contained to items in the trash bin that included many old mattresses. No one was injured.

Two people were evaluated for smoke inhalation symptoms but did not need to be hospitalized after several mattresses burned in a Dumpster Thursday morning outside the Virginia Inn Hotel, 2903 W. Sixth St.

Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical firefighters checked carbon monoxide levels in hotel rooms and deemed them to be safe by 10 a.m. Thursday.

Fire marshal James King said the cause of the fire was undetermined after an investigation.

Division Chief Lyle Schwartz said several mattresses caught fire in a large commercial trash bin about 9:30 a.m. and firefighters were called there.

Hotel owner Sonny Bhakta said the hotel has gone through several large containers as part of a remodeling, including throwing away old mattresses. The hotel is near Sixth Street and Schwarz Road.

A heavy wind was blowing smoke through the parking lot when the debris caught fire. King said Dumpster sustained minimal damage in the fire but no surrounding structures were damaged.

Eric Rillos said he awoke to someone knocking on his door in a room near the fire.

“I walked outside and that thing was on fire,” Rillos said.

He said his vehicle parked next to the trash bin appeared to be OK.