Cigarette Caused Massive Lincoln Hotel Fire and Total Loss

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LINCOLN, Neb. – (KLKN) – Investigators with Lincoln Fire & Rescue have determined that a discarded cigarette was the cause of a massive fire that destroyed the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Monday evening.

The blaze, which broke out at the intersection of 27th and Superior streets, forced a full evacuation of the building and resulted in a total collapse of the facility’s upper floors and roof.

MJ Lierman, a spokeswoman for Lincoln Fire & Rescue, said the cigarette ignited materials on the west side of the building. The fire quickly climbed the exterior wall and reached the roof, where it spread rapidly. Lierman said the flames and smoke went unnoticed for several minutes by those inside, allowing the fire to gain strength before emergency crews were alerted.

The situation changed when a passerby spotted the flames around 6:50 p.m. and called 911. The unidentified witness then entered the hotel to warn the front desk, prompting an employee to pull the fire alarm. This critical intervention allowed enough time for all guests and staff to safely evacuate the premises before conditions worsened.

Once the building was cleared, the structural integrity of the hotel began to fail. Fire officials reported that the roof caved in, followed by the collapse of the second and third floors.

Thick black smoke from the scene could be seen from miles away across the city. By the time firefighters arrived, the top of the structure was fully engulfed in flames.

Witnesses at the scene reported hearing what sounded like an explosion coming from within the burning hotel. Lierman explained that this was a “smoke explosion,” a phenomenon often caused when older insulation in a building is subjected to extreme heat. Despite the intensity of the fire and the subsequent structural failures, no injuries were reported among the guests or the first responders.

Ryan Viets, a guest from Minnesota who was staying at the hotel for work, said he realized the severity of the situation almost immediately. “I knew I had to get out when I saw the smoke,” Viets said. He noted that the west side stairwell was already impassable by the time he tried to flee, forcing guests to find alternative exits.

Fire crews remained on the scene throughout Tuesday to monitor and extinguish remaining hot spots. LFR has officially declared the Fairfield Inn & Suites a total loss. Displaced guests were forced to find new accommodations, with many losing personal belongings in the fast-moving fire.

Authorities are using the incident to remind the public about the extreme importance of disposing of smoking materials in designated, fire-safe containers.