A rapid fire swept through an Econo Lodge in Wooster Township, Ohio, early Wednesday, claiming the lives of three Indian-origin adults trapped in one room. Firefighters found heavy flames already through the roof upon arrival around 1:30 a.m. Dispatch had received reports of people unable to escape. The Wayne County Coroner identified the victims as Hiteshkumar Suthar, Hinaben Suthar and Isha Suthar. Crews made several rescue attempts but could not reach the room in time. The incident was declared a five-alarm fire, drawing about 70 firefighters from 15 departments. The blaze was contained within an hour. No other guests were hurt. Investigators from local fire, sheriff and state marshal offices are examining the cause. A motel employee noted that one victim had phoned the front desk and that two of the deceased had worked at the property. A nearby guest described waking to smoke and moving his vehicle as flames spread quickly.
