Authorities say an early-morning fire has destroyed a vacant 115-year-old former luxury hotel just south of downtown Dallas.
Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans says nobody was hurt in Tuesday's blaze at what used to be the Ambassador Hotel. Evans says the caretaker was in a nearby trailer and not in the six-story building, which was undergoing renovation for redevelopment.
Evans says the cause of the fire has not been determined. The structure was engulfed in flames before being extinguished around 5 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters remained on the scene to monitor for hot spots.
A city website describes the former Ambassador Hotel as a Dallas landmark and Texas Historic Landmark. Authorities say the structure had been vacant for years.
@DallasFireRes_q responding to 4-alarm fire at Old Ambassador Hotel. No reported injuries. Over 100 firefighters responding. https://t.co/RphHatcSQm pic.twitter.com/tSLJ5Ld1yE
— DALLAS FIRE-RESCUE (@DallasFireRes_q) May 28, 2019
A piece of history lost:
— Chris Sadeghi (@chrissadeghi) May 28, 2019
The 115-year-old Ambassador Hotel collapsed in an early morning fire. It hosted 3 presidents and was the first luxury hotel in Dallas history but has been vacant for many years awaiting a proposed renovation into apartments. #IAmUp pic.twitter.com/2sZA0MjzLT
i woke up from the holiday weekend to learn that, overnight, dallas's oldest hotel had burned to the ground. long vacant, it was being brought back to life, so it is doubly painful. it's a reminder we should value our hisstory. https://t.co/cQyX5LOIMb
— mark lamster (@marklamster) May 28, 2019
This daytime drone shot really shows what the fire did to the old Ambassador Hotel in Dallas. It will be demolished once everything is out.
— Tiffany Liou (@tliou) May 28, 2019
More than 100 firefighters have been working since 1:30 this morning.
Drone pilot: @tvtomee @wfaa @DallasFireRes_q pic.twitter.com/rXW8p27lDX
Recommended reading:https://t.co/cdJ6Nc3aCI
— meg (@lynandout) May 28, 2019
Here's the Google Maps Street View of what the Ambassador Hotel looked like to vehicles traveling west on I-30. This view is from the exit ramp past Harwood Street.