SANDESTIN, Fla. — Late Monday evening, South Walton Fire District (SWFD) firefighters responded to a commercial structure fire at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa.

Crews arrived on-scene around midnight and found an electrical fire had started within a utilities room on the 6th floor of the Spa Tower. The room’s fire suppression system had successfully contained the fire, however, smoke was present on multiple floors. Firefighters worked with resort staff to gain access to the fire’s room of origin, secure the sprinkler system and utilities, evacuate resort guests, and extinguish remaining signs of fire.

Fortunately, no firefighters or civilians were injured during the incident. However, the fire caused significant damage to the tower’s electrical system, as well as water damage from the activation of the sprinkler heads.

Statement by Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort &Spa:

“In the early morning of May 14th at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, there was a small fire in an electrical room. Thanks to the prompt response from local fire departments and the fire system in place, the fire that was contained to a small space, was extinguished and everyone was safely evacuated. 

There is no structural damage to the building, and our team is working quickly to determine the next steps for reopening the affected area. In the meantime, the second guest accommodations wing, known as the Emerald Tower, as well as dining outlets and additional amenities across the property including the spa, are open and fully operational. 

We are grateful for the support and cooperation of the local emergency services departments and are committed to ensuring the continued safety and comfort of our guests.”

Due to the extended period of time needed to repair the Tower’s utilities, guests were relocated to other rooms on the property for their safety. SWFD wants to emphasize our appreciation for the resort staff and their commitment to ensuring the fire suppression systems in the building were working properly. The activation of the sprinkler system kept the fire in check until firefighters arrived on-scene, in turn preventing significant injuries or loss of life.

Any business owners who would like to learn more about fire suppression systems or request an inspection for their commercial occupancy can contact the SWFD Fire and Life Safety Division via email at lifesafety@swfd.org. You can also submit an inspection request for free through the SWFD Smartphone App. We respectfully ask any questions regarding the resort’s operations or timeline of repairs for the Spa Tower be directed to the resort. Thank you to the responding Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies for the assistance ensuring the scene and all resort guests were safe.

structure fire at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa.

Structure fire at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa.