Woman sets herself on fire in Seattle hotel elevator

A woman set herself on fire in the elevator of a downtown hotel this morning, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

The woman, who hasn't been identified, suffered burns to 60 percent of her body and was taken to Harborview Medical Center, said Seattle fire spokeswoman Sue Stangl. The woman had been a guest at the Marriott-Waterfront.

Firefighters were called to the hotel, which is at 2100 Alaskan Way, at 12:54 a.m. on report of a fire. The woman was found in an elevator on the fifth floor of the hotel, Stangl said.

Fire alarms were sounded on the third through seventh floors, Stangl said. Though fire crews didn't order anyone out of their rooms, some guests evacuated on their own.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company