Fire Destroys Historic Ambassador Hotel in Downtown Dallas
DallasNews.com and WFAA.com are reporting one of the oldest structures in Texas is a total loss as the empty Ambassador Hotel was gutted by fire early Tuesday morning
Calls began around 1:30 am Tuesday as reports of flames and black smoke made its way across the downtown area near 1300 South Ervay Street. Around 100 firefighters responded to the blaze which took until around 5 am before it was declared to be under control.
Conditions were so poor firefighters got the order to pull back and take a defensive stand as the fire quickly became two fires according to Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans who spoke with DallasNews.com.
Fire from the Ambassador Hotel spread to construction materials on the rooftops of nearby buildings making a big mess for firefighters in the middle of the night.
The Ambassador Hotel is known as the oldest hotel structure of its kind in the city of Dallas was scheduled for renovations and was in the middle of being redeveloped into apartments and retail space to include than 100 small apartment units and a ground level swimming pool.
The Ambassador Hotel opened as the Majestic Hotel and was once knows as the most luxurious place to stay in the entire city. Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson have all stayed at the Majestic while serving the nation.
Several sections of the building have collapsed as of late this morning. The historic building is being called a total loss.