24th floor fire spurs evacuation of Downtown Pittsburgh hotel; no one injured

A fire broke out Tuesday night on the 24th floor of a Downtown Pittsburgh hotel, spurring a temporary evacuation of guests while firefighters knocked down the blaze.

No one was injured, though multiple floors of the Westin Convention Center were exposed to possible smoke damage, public safety officials said.

The fire was reported at the 616-room hotel along Liberty Avenue shortly after 9:30 p.m.

Firefighters extinguished the fire within about 15 minutes, according to assistant fire chief Norman Auvil.

“We responded, put it out. … (It was) and orderly evacuation, and it’s being investigated,” Auvil said.

No guests were displaced for the night, according to public safety officials and hotel management. Those who were staying on the 22nd floor or higher were relocated to rooms on lower floors.

EMS, Fire and Police are on the 1000 block of Liberty Avenue for reports of smoke inside a building. More information to follow. pic.twitter.com/Ep2UHpK9xv

— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) September 15, 2021

People staying at the Westin Hotel tell us the fire happened on the 24th floor. People staying in rooms 22 and above are moving to lower floors in the hotel. No one was injured, and the fire is out. @WPXI https://t.co/K6rvfzLstj

— Ryan Houston WPXI (@WPXIRyanHouston) September 15, 2021

Update: @PghFireFighters have placed the fire under control. https://t.co/bW7eugnzDu

— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) September 15, 2021

Crews still were securing the building around 11:30 p.m. as onlookers watched. Sections of Penn Avenue and 10th Street were closed temporarily by Pittsburgh police officers who assisted in the response.

Happening NOW — Dozens of hotel guests, onlookers watch as firefighters finish securing The Westin in Downtown #Pittsburgh, where a fire broke out in a room on the 24th floor.

No one was injured.

Sections of Penn Ave & 10th St remain closed to cars but should reopen soon. pic.twitter.com/aH1bYwwS8x

— Natasha Lindstrom (@NewsNatasha) September 15, 2021

Officials did not indicate any possible causes for the fire, which remains under investigation.

Fortunately, @PghFireFighters were able to get fire under control quickly after “orderly evacuation” of The Westin, per Assistant Chief Norman Auvil.

Fire was reported at 9:34 p.m. and extinguished by 9:49 p.m.

Officials have not yet indicated what may have caused it. @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/ka3abRlHDI

— Natasha Lindstrom (@NewsNatasha) September 15, 2021