A devastating fire has completely destroyed the historic Donoho Hotel in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, wiping out a cherished landmark that had stood for more than a century.
The Morning Inferno
Emergency services received the first calls around 7am on Tuesday from concerned witnesses who spotted smoke and flames emerging from the building. Fire departments from three separate towns within Macon County rushed to the scene to confront what they described as 'heavy fire conditions' throughout the hotel.
Despite their rapid response, the blaze spread with alarming speed. By 8am, just one hour after the initial alarm, the fire had engulfed both the top and bottom floors of the wooden structure. The building's largely timber construction contributed to the fire's intensity, making containment efforts particularly challenging for firefighters.
Rescue Efforts and Total Loss
In a remarkable outcome given the scale of the destruction, all occupants escaped the building safely. Firefighters successfully rescued one woman who had become trapped by the advancing flames, and she emerged from the ordeal without any injuries.
However, the same could not be said for the historic hotel itself. After hours of battling the inferno, officials had no choice but to declare the Donoho Hotel a 'total loss'. The entire structure was destroyed with the exception of a small section of the main building's left wing, which authorities determined was still unusable and unsafe.
A Landmark Lost to History
Built in 1916, The Donoho Hotel was one of only three remaining hotels from Red Boiling Springs' early 20th century resort boom. The area originally gained fame for its mineral springs, which were believed to possess healing powers during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The hotel held significant architectural distinction as the only remaining hotel featuring full-length, two-story verandahs that spanned the entire exterior of the building. Its historical importance was formally recognised in 1986 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
While the hotel's interior and amenities had been renovated over its 109-year history, the building's exterior had remained largely unchanged since its construction. This was not the first fire to strike a Donoho Hotel - an earlier version of the establishment had also burned down prior to the construction of the building destroyed this week.
Red Boiling Springs Fire Department Chief Randall Bray praised the emergency response, stating: 'Our firefighters worked tirelessly under challenging conditions. We are grateful for the assistance of neighboring departments and for the community's support during this difficult time.'
The cause of the blaze remains unclear, though the Red Boiling Springs Police Department has confirmed that an investigation into the fire's origin is now underway.
Community leaders expressed profound sorrow at the loss. Red Boiling Springs Police Chief Jeffery Maynard described it as 'a devastating loss for our community', noting that 'The Donoho Hotel has been a landmark in our city's history'.
