An improperly disposed of cigarette sparked a blaze and forced guests staying at Oxford Suites in Silverdale to evacuate the building Aug. 16.

Firefighters from Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue (CKFR) and Navy Region Northwest Fire and Emergency Services were dispatched to the fire at 2:43 p.m. Upon arrival, crews found light smoke spreading throughout the hotel with a higher accumulation of smoke concentrated around a mechanical room on the basement level.

Due to the size of the facility and amount of smoke permeating throughout the building, the blaze was upgraded to a second-alarm fire, according to CKFR.

Firefighters checked guest rooms on both sides of the mechanical room and removed ceiling tiles every few feet to search for the source of the smoke. Power was secured to the building and once the heating and air conditioning system was turned off, smoke conditions significantly improved, which indicated the smoke source was in the HVAC system. Crews focused on the exterior of the building, specifically the air intake vents, according to CKFR.

Firefighters found beauty bark and rubbish smoldering in Oxford Suite’s ventilation system was the smoke source. The Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed that an improperly disposed of cigarette ignited the blaze.