Fire Forces Evacuation of Standard Hotel

Guests at the Standard Hotel were evacuated Friday afternoon when a fire broke ou

DNAinfo/Elizabeth Ladzinski

By Elizabeth Ladzinski and Michael Ventura

DNAinfo Staff

MEATPACKING DISTRICT - The Standard Hotel was evacuated Friday after a fire broke out in the basement, fire officials said.

The posh boutique hotel at 848 Washington St. owned by Andre Balazs is known for its swanky Boom Boom Room, and a beer garden on the ground floor.

A man in town for business, who identifed himself as Alex Z, 45, said he was woken up from his nap by the fire alarm.

"I was just chilling, and I very much needed to chill," he said. "Too bad I left my camera in the room, cause this would be a great photo-op."

Thomas Contenay, 26, who's visiting from Paris, was also woken up by the alarm and an annoucement to leave the building.

"I'd been sick all night," Contenay said. "I was still in my room sleeping."

The fire started at roughly 2:24 p.m., the FDNY said. It was under control by 4 p.m. Guests were allowed back into the hotel a half-hour later.

No injuries were immediately reported.

Fire officials at the scene said the fire started in an electrical panel located an equipment room in the basement. They believed a burnt-out wire started to smoke and burn.

The Standard Hotel is one of the more exclusive addresses in Manhattan.  It became notorious in recent months for public displays of sex and nudity.