LAST week’s fire at The Riverside Hotel in Durban North may have been caused by an electrical fault. The fire which began on the second floor gutted one room and it was the quick-thinking actions of a Durban North resident that helped save a number of guests from a fire that gutted a room at the Riverside Hotel.
Gordon (‘Gords’) Reid was driving back from an early morning cycle at 5.50am when he spotted smoke billowing out of a second floor window. The 42-year-old not only raised the alarm but also helped get some of the bewildered guests out of their rooms.
In a statement released today, the hotel praised the staff for their quick response when the fire broke out. Riverside Hotel general manager, Keith Bentley, confirmed that no guests or staff were injured in the fire.
“One guest did receive oxygen from paramedics due to smoke inhalation. An investigation is currently underway to assess the cause of the fire, however initial indications are that an electrical fault in the air-conditioning unit may have been at fault. The air conditioner was recently serviced by a qualified electrician,” Bentley said.
