Guests allowed back in after evacuation at Center City hotel

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- The smell of smoke forced hundreds of hotel guests into the streets of Center City for hours Wednesday morning.

Crews evacuated the Sheraton on North 17th Street just before 4:15 a.m., and it wasn't until 12:30 p.m. - eight hours later - that guests were allowed back into their rooms.

For hours people sat outside after smoky conditions forced evacuations of more than 1,000 hotel guests at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown.

Alarms went off and guests soon started making their way down the stairs.

Smoke filled the lobby and rose to some of the guest floors. Fire and hotel officials blamed a malfunctioning electrical panel for the problem.

Some guests stayed outside the hotel - food and beverages were provided. Others relocated to the Convention Center by shuttle or waited in the Archdiocese across the street.

Ventilation fans helped air out the building. Guests were allowed back in to pick up medications and belongings this morning but were not able to stay until the building was cleared.