Some seven rooms were damaged midday Saturday at Sunset Motel in what is the sixth major structure fire in Hutchinson in less than a week and eighth total since Dec. 18.



No one was injured in the fire at 2605 E. Fourth Ave. However, two motel guests were evacuated for safety.



�We�re just glad no one was injured,� said Chuck Patel, the motel�s owner.



Officials have ruled the cause of the fire as electrical. Hutchinson Fire Department inspector Tony Arpin said the source of the fire was a nail that had punctured some electrical wiring behind a dryer in the motel�s laundry room. Over time, Arpin said, the exposure finally sparked enough to cause a fire and spread.



Firefighters arrived on the scene around 1 p.m. to a heavy amount of smoke stemming from the room. It took almost an hour to get the fire under control. Seven units responded with a total of 17 firefighters.



The motel took heavy flame and smoke damage to the roof, attic and laundry room. Officials estimate the damage at $50,000 to $75,000.



�It�s been a busy week,� Battalion Chief Darren Unruh said of the December rash of fires whose numbers were confirmed by the department.



Later in the day, units were dispatched to Superior Boiler, 3524 E. Fourth Ave., for reports of heavy smoke and flames. It turned out to be a false alarm.



�It�s a little unusual, but this time of year, we tend to see an increase in fires,� Fire Chief Kim Forbes said.



There have been other weeks during winter months when the department responded to at least 10 fire calls in less than a week, Forbes said. The fire chief said the record belongs to a week during a mid-2000s ice storm when fire crews responded to 334 calls. However, most of those calls had to do with non-fire issues.



�A combination of people spending more time inside, and the activities they do, increases the risks,� Forbes said.



What makes this outbreak of fires so unusual is the number of serious structure fires to businesses and occupied homes in combination with the mild weather.



Three businesses � Ineeda Cleaners, The Buggy Shop and Sunset Motel � have had structure fires during this time, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to the businesses. Three house fires occurred on Christmas Eve in occupied homes. An 8-year-old boy died Friday evening as the result of one. Seven others were injured but have since been treated.



�The sad thing we are seeing is runs are increasing each year,� Forbes said. �We think we�ll see more structure fires in the future due to the number of vacated structures in the area and their age.�



To prepare, Forbes said, his staff has changed how they respond to various fire calls. Using what he called truck company operations, which place personnel in specialized roles on fire and ladder trucks to help contain fires and mitigate damage.



�It�s worked and we�ve seen benefit of that,� he said. �The city of Hutchinson should be proud. Time after time, we�ve showed up and stepped up.�



The department has been fortunate to not suffer any injuries during this time, Forbes said. He credits the training the department�s firefighters undergo in addition to stressing healthy eating and hydration.



�It�s times like this that show we�re doing what we need to,� he said.



Meanwhile, officials are still urging citizens to be mindful of how they stay warm this winter.



Furnaces, fireplaces, space heaters and extension cords should be monitored when in use, Forbes said. He also said proper disposal of ashes is key to preventing flare-ups. Ashes should be disposed in a metal container and wetted properly before being left unattended.



Earlier this week the department sent out a news release urging residents to also check their smoke detectors and to be aware of holiday decorations.



�A working smoke detector is your first and best line of defense if a fire were to occur in your home a night while you are sleeping,� the release said.