D.C. Fire Marshals are investigating a blaze at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel that security officers suspect might have been started by an employee, according to fire officials.
The 1,300-room Marriott in Woodley Park, the largest hotel in the District, has been the site of at least three fires since December and seven fires since February 2006, fire and hotel officials said.
Hotel security told fire officials said that they believe at least one of the fires might have been intentionally caused by one or more hotel employees.
Fire marshals determined that most of the fires were accidental, but they haven’t determined whether a Dec. 30 fire was set intentionally, said fire department spokesman Tony Dorsey.
Fire marshals are investigating whether someone purposely placed smoking materials on a lobby couch in the seventh floor of the hotel at 2660 Woodley Road NW, Dorsey said.
Flames engulfed the couch and a planter box, producing dark smoke that filled the top floors of the 11-story building, according to witnesses. Thousands of guests were awakened and evacuated while D.C. firefighters put out the blaze. At least one person was taken to a hospital.
Dorsey said the fires are not connected.
“Our investigation is preliminary, but we do not believe that a serial arsonist is involved,” Dorsey said.
