Fire Breaks Out at Abandoned Medford Hotel

A security officer discovered a small fire inside the long-vacant Ramada Inn and Conference Center, and crews quickly extinguished it.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Emergency Response

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a boarded-up low-rise hotel facade with dark windows and a thin wisp of smoke rising above it. — Nine fire department units responded Thursday after a security officer found a blaze inside the long-vacant Ramada Inn and Conference Center on Biddle Road in Medford. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A security officer on rounds at the abandoned Ramada Inn and Conference Center on Biddle Road in Medford smelled smoke and found a fire in a hallway, believed to be on the first floor. Nine fire department units responded, and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.

Why it matters

The property has been the site of numerous fires since last year, prompting the City of Medford to contract security on an emergency basis to address health and safety risks. The building is now under a do-not-enter order for police and fire personnel.

Nine fire department units responded to the fire at the abandoned Ramada Inn and Conference Center in Medford, which has seen numerous fires since last year. The cause of the blaze has not been reported in the available information.

The players

Invictus Protection Agency

A private security firm hired on an emergency contract by the City of Medford to address health and safety risks at the abandoned hotel.

City of Medford

The Oregon city that contracted the emergency security work and continues to explore permanently possessing the property through eminent domain.

The details

The fire was believed to be on the first floor and was quickly extinguished by responding firefighters. Invictus Protection Agency, hired on an emergency contract by the City of Medford, has since cleaned debris in the parking area, repaired holes in perimeter fences, and boarded up vulnerable air conditioning vents, with at least one person monitoring the grounds from a security trailer.

Last year: Numerous fires began occurring at the hazardous property.
Early morning, November 9, 2026: Security officer discovered and reported the fire inside the abandoned hotel.

Seasonal Patterns

The city's emergency security contract and its exploration of eminent domain for the Biddle Road property follow a pattern of local governments addressing repeated fires at long-vacant commercial buildings. The incident adds another documented fire to the property's record since last year.

Residents near Biddle Road should avoid entering the abandoned hotel, which is under a do-not-enter order for police and fire personnel. Keep clear of the perimeter and report smoke or fire in the area to emergency services.

The takeaway

Vacant buildings can become serious fire and safety hazards when left unsecured, and emergency contracts are one tool cities use to reduce that risk while longer-term decisions are made.