Christmas Tree Catches Fire at Disneyland Hotel

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – A 35-foot Christmas tree caught fire in the lobby of the Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel early Wednesday but nobody suffered serious injuries. The hotel's sprinkler system kept the 3 a.m. blaze in check and firefighters were able to quickly put it out, said Maria Sabol, a spokeswoman for the Anaheim Fire Department. The 745-room hotel in the center of the Disneyland Resort was at full capacity with about 2,300 guests, said Rob Doughty, the resort's vice president of communications. They were evacuated to three locations in and around the park, and hotel officials hoped to get them back into their rooms by 7 a.m. Pacific Time, he said. Guest Lee Crice of Phoenix told KTLA-TV that he saw the top six feet of the tree were ablaze as he fled through the hotel lobby after being awakened by the fire alarm. Television footage showed firefighters spraying water on the artificial tree and gray smoke wafting through the cavernous lobby. About 18 firefighters responded to the alarm, Sabol said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, she said. Two guests were treated at the scene for minor injuries and released, Doughty said. One complained of a strained back and the other of stress symptoms from the evacuation.