A blaze forces out dozens of motel guests at a site near The Florida Mall.

A usually bustling motel near The Florida Mall sat empty Thursday, a day after a fire in the attic over a stairwell displaced nearly 70 guests.

The smell of smoke still hung in the air as workers took photos of the damage at Travelodge on West Landstreet Road near South Orange Blossom Trail.

The roof over the west staircase collapsed, and debris littered the ground. Red tape warning, “Danger: Do not enter,” prevented people from using the stairs.

Orange County firefighters responded to a call for help from the motel about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Fire Rescue spokeswoman Ngoc Huynh said the blaze started in an attic above the staircase.

Crews cut holes in the roof and knocked down the flames before the fire reached any guest rooms.

Firefighters helped evacuate guests, and no one was injured.

Travelodge helped put up guests in other places for the night, Huynh said.

She said that after the fire was out, guests were allowed back into their rooms to get their belongings before leaving.

The American Red Cross provided water and snacks for the displaced guests and firefighters. A Red Cross spokeswoman said it does not appear that any longterm residents were staying at the motel.

Travelodge remained closed Thursday while the power was still shut off, and it is uncertain when it will reopen.

The State Fire Marshal’s office was called to investigate the cause.

An employee who declined to give his name said firefighters did a good job putting out the blaze quickly, and he was waiting for a representative from the insurance company to arrive.

A spokesperson for Wyndham Worldwide, which owns Travelodge, did not return a message seeking comment.