US Actor Henry Winkler, most famous for his role as Athur Fonzarelli, 'The Fonz', from the 1970's sitcom Happy Days, was on the scene in Dublin City Centre this morning as the historic Shelbourne Hotel was evacuated following a fire on the sixth floor.
The American actor is in town to perform his new live show,'The Fonz & Beyond" in the National Concert Hall this evening, whereby Winkler tells stories from his 50-year career in Hollywood. He is also promoting the release of his new memoir, 'Being Henry', whilst in Dublin.
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'It was an amazing adventure right here in Dublin': Henry Winkler On Shelbourne Hotel Fire Evacuation
Shortley after 10:30am, all staff and guests staying in Dublin's historic Shelbourne Hotel next to St Stephen's Green were evacuated following a fire on the sixth floor of the building. Guests were alerted by the sound of the fire alarm, with one witness seeing smoke from an upper window. The Dublin Fire Department arrived shortly afterwards and handled the situation.
One of the hotel guests was none other than Henry Winkler, who had checked into the hotel late last night, described this morning's evacuation as,
"An amazing adventure right here in Dublin. I cannot wait to see the rest of Dublin"
Winkler said that when he first heard the alarm sounding, he assumed it was the "clock-radio" that had been pre-set by a previous hotel guest. With the fire alarm still blaring, Winkler investigated further, "I went into another room and it was still buzzing, so I called downstairs." He described the following conversation with his typical dose of sarcasm and dry humour, saying:
"The woman said, in a very calm voice, 'Yes we're all evacuating, you must evacuate right now!' And I left."
US actor Henry Winkler, best known as The Fonz from sitcom Happy Days, has praised Dublin firefighters involved in this morning's evacuation of the historic Shelbourne Hotel | Read more: https://t.co/X5dqu1Dd8N pic.twitter.com/lVikhTno7r
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 12, 2024
Winkler Full of Praise for Dublin Fire Department
Henry Winkler was quick to praise the fast response of the Dublin Fire Department to the incident, and was seen shaking hands with them after the fire had been dealt with. He said firemen and firewomen in general are, "Some of my favourite human beings", continuing, "They run in when other people are running out. I think they deserve to be shook".
Thank you Dublin ‘s fire department … our hotel was evacuated on our first morning !!! pic.twitter.com/kyByb5VSoM
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) June 12, 2024
The Dublin Fire Department have said that the fire appeared to have started in the roof space above a bedroom on the sixth floor, but that it has been contained and everyone was safe. The hotel and roads outside have reopened.
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