In Pekin fire forced occupants and employees out of the Holiday Inn Express this morning.
The blaze was so big that firefighters called in mutual aid to battle the flames for nearly two hours.

Smoke from fire that authorities say started in an attic could be seen more than a block away at the Holiday Inn Express in Pekin.
One employee says after a hotel guest alert the manager about flames on the roof they began evacuating the burning building.

"Everybody was real quick about it. We've practiced and we know what we're doing. Our main concern was to get everybody out safely," said hotel employee Tabitha Johnson.

"A little nervous and just wanted to make sure everybody got out, employees got out, people got out and everybody's safe," said housekeeping manager Angie Phillips.

Phillips says the hotel alarm did not go off but she activated it after they were alerted about the fire...and most of the 10 occupants had left before the blaze started around 9–thirty.
Pekin firefighters used an aerial truck to attack the flames from the air and got help from East Peoria crews.

"We were able to go in we did pull some high rise packs up into the area. Unfortunately we found some lock......holes to actually gain access and as they gained access they did not have an adequate number of personnel to fight it cause it was the entire roof structure," said Pekin Fire Chief Kurt Nelson.

The hotel manager says more than one million dollars in renovation work was just completed inside the building.

"It's absolutely devastating; we put a lot of money into the hotel. I spent a lot of blood sweat and tears over the last six months getting the hotel to where it should be," said hotel manager Erin Schuette.

Schuette met briefly with her employees and says right now it's a wait and see situation until adjusters have assessed the extent of the damages.

Schutte says hotel occupants are staying at another hotel.
Authorities believe the fire started in the attic above the third floor but do not have a cause and it's under investigation.