The Econo Lodge remained closed after a fire killed three people and forced guests into temporary lodging.
WOOSTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A fire that killed three people at the Econo Lodge on East Lincoln Way remained under investigation as displaced guests were moved from the closed motel and emergency crews reviewed what happened early Wednesday.
Firefighters were called to the motel around 1:30 a.m. and arrived to find flames and smoke pouring from the property. Wooster Township Fire Chief Dallas Terrell said crews saw multiple units burning and flames through the roof. One firefighter suffered minor injuries while battling the fire.
Terrell said firefighters made several rescue attempts after learning people were trapped inside, but those efforts were not successful. “There are confirmed three deceased occupants from the motel,” Terrell said. The victims were later identified in reports as members of the Suthar family, including Isha Suthar, who also worked at a nearby McDonald’s. Officials had not announced a cause for the fire.
April Graser, a motel employee working overnight, said the shift had seemed normal until alarms sounded. She said a man from Room 121 ran to the front desk and told her to call 911 because there was a fire. Graser then checked security cameras and saw flames in the southwest corner of the building. She said the front desk phone rang moments later and one of the trapped victims pleaded for help.
The fire damaged part of the motel and led officials to close the property. Dozens of guests were displaced after the blaze. Some were relocated to other hotels, and others received assistance from the Red Cross. Authorities said guests in other parts of the motel were cleared from their rooms as crews worked through the scene.
The investigation includes the Wooster Township Fire Department and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. State and federal fire investigators may review the scene because the fire happened at a commercial property. Officials are expected to examine the origin of the fire, how it spread and whether building systems worked as intended. No criminal findings had been announced.
The deaths also reached beyond the motel. Co-workers of Isha Suthar held a vigil outside the McDonald’s on Lincoln Way East, where balloons were tied to a light pole. Friends described her as loving and energetic. The motel remained closed while investigators continued their work and displaced guests waited for more permanent answers.
Author note: Last updated July 4, 2026.