Chapel Hill Police and Fire departments responded to a barricade-turned-arson situation Friday morning.
According to police chief Celisa Lehew, Chapel Hill fire responded to a call at The Siena Hotel on E. Franklin Street around 4:30 a.m. Approximately 50 guests were safely evacuated.
Chapel Hill authorities are investigating this situation as a possible arson, as interviews and video footage showed someone running away from evacuation routes. Police believe this person is still inside the hotel as of 8 a.m.
Around 6:30 a.m., police evacuated one barricaded person out of the building while the scene was still active. They said the person evacuated and the person suspected of starting the fire are not connected.
The person who was evacuated was not injured, and no other hotel guests were injured.
Police are scheduled to give an update at 1:30 p.m.
According to a fire dispatch call, Chapel Hill fire told authorities that the person barricaded may have had a gun. We are working to confirm this information.
East Franklin Street was closed between Estes Drive and Elliott Road. The town is asking people to avoid the area if they can.
It’s unclear how the fire started, and what the motive is of the person still inside the building.
The hotel is minutes away from UNC’s campus and near popular shopping centers like University Place and Eastgate Crossing.
This is an active, ongoing scene. WRAL is working to learn more information.