Fire at old Joplin Holiday Inn building under investigation

Fire crews from Joplin and Redings Mill responded to a report of smoke coming from the old Joplin Holiday Inn building at 3400 Hammons Blvd. just off I-44 Saturday afternoon.

Crews arrived on scene around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday to find a blaze confined to a portion of the 5th floor of the now-closed Joplin hotel.

At one time, the Joplin Holiday Inn was a premier site for lodgings, meetings and conventions but the structure has been closed as a business for several years. Utilities are turned off in the building.

Firefighters have responded to calls concerning the structure several times in the last few years.

The fire Saturday was quickly contained. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.