Hundreds of guests had to be evacuated from the Pfister Hotel during the lunch hour on Wednesday because of a fire. "Just before noon we got a call of fire on the roof of the Pfister Hotel," Milwaukee Deputy Fire Chief Terry Lintonen said. "We did find fire around an area that was under construction on the roof." Pfister Hotel general manager Tim Smith said construction crews are updating the hotel's elevators. Firefighters said workers were using a torch. "We did have to evacuate the guest rooms, and we were able to get everyone down to the lobby and across the street very, very quickly," he said. Firefighters said the fire won't jeopardize safe operation of the hotel. "What we found was fire contained to the roofing material, a little bit into the ceiling below," Lintonen said. The Pfister Hotel was open Wednesday night.

Hundreds of guests had to be evacuated from the Pfister Hotel during the lunch hour on Wednesday because of a fire.

"Just before noon we got a call of fire on the roof of the Pfister Hotel," Milwaukee Deputy Fire Chief Terry Lintonen said. "We did find fire around an area that was under construction on the roof."


Pfister Hotel general manager Tim Smith said construction crews are updating the hotel's elevators. Firefighters said workers were using a torch.

"We did have to evacuate the guest rooms, and we were able to get everyone down to the lobby and across the street very, very quickly," he said.

Firefighters said the fire won't jeopardize safe operation of the hotel.

"What we found was fire contained to the roofing material, a little bit into the ceiling below," Lintonen said.

The Pfister Hotel was open Wednesday night.