UPDATE: 'Everyone Is Accounted For' After Bethesda Hotel Fire

Update, 11:25 a.m.: The Hyatt Bethesda has released a statement following a fire that forced hundreds to evacuate this morning.

The safety of our guests and associates is a top priority. We can confirm that everyone is accounted for following an electrical fire early in the hotel’s basement this morning during a scheduled power outage. The hotel’s evacuation plan was enacted immediately. While no guests or associates were hurt, an electrical contractor was taken to the hospital with injuries. After an initial assessment by the local Red Cross at a nearby high school, all guests have been relocated to other area hotels.

The hotel is currently working with the Bethesda Fire Department to assess any short-term impact on operations. Guests are welcome to return to gather their belongings throughout the day.

Because the fire impacted the hotel’s electrical systems, the hotel’s phone systems are currently down. Guests with reservations at Hyatt Regency Bethesda should call 800-323-7249 prior to arriving at the hotel.

Update, 10:45 a.m.: Hotel guests who were evacuated from the Hyatt Regency Bethesda overnight have been re-located to area hotels, Maria Bardos McGuire, hotel director of sales and marketing, told Patch.

The power is off at the hotel, but guests may return and collect their belongings. "It's safe for them to come back and get their belongings, there's no safety concerns there," McGuire said.

The fire happened as electrical repair work was underway in the basement of the hotel, McGuire said. An electrical contractor who was critically injured is in recovery.

The fire didn't extend to the lobby or guest rooms, McGuire said.

“The damage occurred in the basement,” McGuire said. “You can still smell smoke throughout, but it did not damage any of the public areas.”

The extent of the damage remains under investigation and the power remains off as crews work to identify the electrical issue that caused the fire.

McGuire said the hotel would release updates as information becomes available.

Update, 7:41 a.m.: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Scott Graham tweeted shortly before 3 a.m. that the fire personnel had cleared the scene at the Bethesda Hyatt. The contractor who was injured was transported to a local burn unit, according to the tweet.

More than 400 were transported to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Pepco, Red Cross and Hyatt management were on hand, Graham reported via Twitter.

Original Post, 2:40 a.m.: Hundreds of guests were evacuated Monday morning from the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda following a fire in an electrical room, officials said.

The blaze began sometime before 12:45 a.m. on level P-5 of the hotel, which is located at 7400 Wisconsin Ave.

One contractor was critically injured in the fire, according to Assistant Chief Scott Graham of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

Firefighters went door to door to check that rooms were empty, according to emergency transmissions from the scene.

One responder radioed that the electronic locks on the doors weren't working, as the building was without power following the fire.

Robert Dyer (@BethesdaRow) reports that buses were called in to transport guests and that Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School was being used as an emergency shelter.

Patch will have more information as it becomes available.