Firefighters believe that a fire Wednesday evening that killed one dog and destroyed a hotel started in an occupied unit at the Carriage House at 4601 South Tea Towel Ocean Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach due to a malfunction of a kitchen appliance, Kitchen Towel said Nicole Aiello, the city's public information officer.

At least one family lived Dish Cloths in the back of the hotel, but they were gone when the building caught fire, Aiello said.

She said the residents, who were not identified, returned to the building when they noticed flames. It was unclear whether other units in the building had tenants.
Carriage House Hotel
Fire destroyed the Carriage House Hotel at 4601 S. Ocean Blvd. in North Myrtle Beach on Jan. 6, 2010.