Raw video from Austin 3-alarm hotel fire. Four people rescued in mid-day blaze.

Much of the roof burned off a hotel in Austin, Texas around noon today. The fire was at Americas Best Value Inn along I-35 in South Austin. There were no serious injuries but firefighters, including one passing by, had to rescue four people from the building.  

Here are excerpts from an article by Sarah Coppola at Statesman.com:

Fire Department spokeswoman Lyzz Donelson said firefighter Alex Venagas had worked one firefighting shift and was traveling to another station for a second shift when he saw flames coming from the three-story hotel. Venagas pulled over and, using a ladder from fire trucks that were arriving at the hotel, he rescued one guest from a hotel window, Donelson said.

Firefighters rescued three other guests through windows, she said. One was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation, which was not life-threatening, she said.

Also on STATter911 …

• A fascinating film: A day in the life of an Austin, Texas firefighter in 1953. – May 12, 2012
• UPDATED – Must see pre-arrival video: 17 people hurt at Watsonville, CA’s Stag Hotel fire. Police on first hose line. Civilians, cops, firefighters make rescues. – May 1, 2012
• From the archives: If you haven’t seen this before you will want to. Film of rescues from the 1963 Roosevelt Hotel fire in Jacksonville, Florida. – January 18, 2012
• Detroit’s new commissioner sets policy on fires in vacants. Austin wants clear sign someone is inside before entering. – June 14, 2011