MACOMB TOWNSHIP, MI — The cause of an early morning fire at the Candlewood Suites hotel on Hall Road remains under investigation following a dramatic rescue and large-scale emergency response Monday morning.
Fire crews were dispatched around 4:47AM on January 26, 2026, after a smoke alarm activation at the four-story hotel. Upon arrival, the first fire crew on scene reported smoke showing, guests evacuating the building, and a male occupant screaming for help from a second-story window.
Firefighters quickly rescued the man from the second-story window and safely brought him to the ground. Firefighters then made entry to attack the fire. Officials say the building’s automatic sprinkler system played a critical role, containing the fire to a single room and preventing further spread.
Despite the fire being limited to one room, smoke and water damage impacted an estimated 10 to 12 guest rooms, displacing multiple occupants.
The Macomb Township Fire Department led firefighting efforts, with assistance from the Shelby Township Fire Department and the Selfridge Air National Guard Base Fire Department.
Following the incident, the fire department requested a formal investigation by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities confirmed the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The hotel is a four-story building with more than 100 guest rooms, covering over 50,000 square feet. Fires in buildings this size are significantly more complex than a typical house fire, requiring a large, coordinated response to evacuate occupants, control smoke, and stop the fire from spreading between floors.
According to the Macomb Township Fire Department, national safety standards from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend about 28 personnel on scene for an incident involving a multi-story commercial building of this size. Officials confirmed that only 12 full-time fire personnel were initially on scene when the first units arrived before additional agencies were able to assist.
The condition of the rescued occupant has not been released.
Updates will be provided as investigators determine the origin and cause of the fire.
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