A fire on Conti Street just off Bourbon caused extensive damage to businesses in the building, and firefighters are likely to remain on the scene into Sunday to make sure all of it is out.
The five-alarm blaze was declared under control around 10:45 Saturday morning. But by then, significant damage had been done to a trio of well-known establishments in the 700 block of Conti St.: The Oceana Grill, Old N'Awlins Cookery and The Copper Monkey Bar and Grill.
The fire broke out and was reported just before 7 a.m. and was initially two alarms. It quickly went to four alarms; and within two hours, five alarm, given the extension of the fire into the walls of the building and migration into the upper floors and roofline.
"A major concern was also the residents and employees at the Hotel Marais located adjacent to 725 Conti St.," fire officials said in a statement. "Fire department personnel worked to evacuate the hotel."
NOFD crews were able to keep the fire from spreading to the hotel, but said even the businesses that escaped smoke and fire damage took some water damage from the fire suppression operations.
Before firefighters arrived, two people exited the kitchen at Oceana Grill and were taken by Louisiana State Police to a nearby hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
