No injuries, cause under investigation after fire in midtown Tulsa

Tulsa firefighters responded Thursday afternoon to a large structure fire at the former OYO/Studio Star hotel near 5000 E. Skelly Drive. Initial calls began coming in around 4:48 p.m. with callers reporting yellow and black smoke coming from multiple areas of the roof. First-arriving crews reported heavy smoke showing from the three-story complex and quickly established command. Firefighters began deploying hose lines and ladders while attempting to access upper floors of the structure.

The property had previously been declared unsafe for occupancy by the City of Tulsa and dispatch information warned responding crews the building had no fire suppression or alarm systems, contained barricaded entry points, and posed significant firefighter safety concerns. As crews advanced inside, firefighters encountered worsening conditions including multiple holes in the upper floors, fire extending into the roof, and partial structural collapse. Around 5:09 p.m., command transitioned operations to a defensive strategy due to deteriorating structural integrity and heavy fire conditions.

During the incident, firefighters utilized aerial ladder operations and multiple hose lines while Tulsa Police assisted with traffic control around the area. Command later reported a roof collapse near an entrance firefighters had been preparing to access, prompting accountability checks to ensure all crews were safely accounted for. Firefighters continued battling hotspots and monitoring unstable areas of the building for several hours. No civilian injuries were immediately reported during dispatch operations.