Recarlo Dukes, who lives on the opposite side of the hotel from the fire, said he heard a loud pop, came around the corner and saw flames shooting out of room 146.
Dukes said he and other residents removed their belongings from their rooms as water from firefighting efforts began to pour through.
No fire alarms were sounding when Windy Hill firefighters first arrived at the fire, Chief John Delung said.
Some if not all of the motel rooms do not have smoke alarms either, residents have said the rooms also lack sprinklers.
Firefighters are going through to rooms in the 48-room wing where the fire was located checking for damage.
A second 48-room wing at the motel was unaffected by the blaze.
Residents displaced by the fire and those who have indicated they want to move out have been told they will not receive refunds.
So far no injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.
Firefighters have not determined the cause of the fire.
Florence Fire Department and Florence County EMS responded for mutual aid.
Stay with scnow.com and the Morning News for additional information as it becomes available.
Written by Florence Morning News
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