Fire at Grand Hyatt in Tampa forces guests to evacuate; 9 had minor injuries, officials say

TAMPA, Fla. - It was a hectic morning for guests and staff at a Tampa hotel after they were forced to evacuate due to a fire. 

It happened at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, which is located at 2900 Bayport Drive in Tampa. That's off the Courtney Campbell Causeway in the Rocky Point area near the Tampa International Airport. 

Tampa Fire Rescue says it received reports of a structure fire at the hotel around 6:30 a.m.

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Firefighters arriving on the scene say the fire was contained to the 11th floor and though it was small, it caused a lot of smoke.

By 7:40 a.m., TFR tweeted that the fire had been put out, but crews were working to remove smoke from the 10th and 11th floors. Firefighters say it took about 30 minutes to put out the flames. 

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Twenty-nine units responded to the hotel due to the number of people inside and firefighters went door to door to evacuate all the guests. However, it is unknown exactly how many people were forced to exit the hotel. 

Tony Maida is in town for the SOFIC conference and is staying at the Grand Hyatt. He said he woke up to pounding on his door. Then two firefighters let themselves into his room, he told FOX 13.

"I see the firefighters in full mask and the smoke coming in the room with the door open and them yelling commands at me to get up and get out," Maida recalled.

He said he quickly grabbed his shoes and began the trek from his 12th-floor room to the ground level.

"No alarm, no fire alarm, no strobe lights, nothing," Maida said. He did, however, see smoke.

Maida showed FOX 13 a letter that, he said, was slid under his door. According to the letter, there was an "electrical" shortage in the "vending area" on the 11th floor. 

Maida said he travels often for his job and that he’s been in a hotel when the fire alarm has gone off before.

"I know what to hear, what to expect if there is a fire. What it sounds like was not here," said Maida, adding that he reached out to the hotel’s general manager and also the corporate offices.

FOX 13 has also requested a statement from the Grand Hyatt in regards to their fire alarm system. 

Crews help a patient into an ambulance following a fire at a Tampa hotel. 

TFR Public Information Officer Vivian Shedd says firefighters assisted guests who had trouble making it out of the hotel on their own. 

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Firefighters say nine people were taken to area hospitals for minor medical conditions.   

Firefighters outside the Tampa Grand Hyatt. 

The Tampa Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.