Deer Lake fire contained after destroying landmark hotel. One woman treated for minor injuries

Firefighters converged on a landmark inn in Deer Lake on Saturday morning and after hours battling the blaze, the fire chief says the fire has been contained.

At around 7 a.m. N.T.,RCMP officers arrived at a fire at the Driftwood Inn, located on Nicholsville Road, near Main Street. Under the same roof there is also a Jungle Jim's restaurant.

Deer Lake Fire Rescue fire chief Stephen Rowsell said when local firefighters arrived on the scene, the building was already engulfed in flames. But he said progress was made in the last several hours.

"It's pretty well contained. Inside, it's just trying looking for hotspots and just trying to drown it surround and drown," said Rowsell.

"We're still in firefighting efforts."

He also said the cause of the fire isn't known at this time.

"As of right now the RCMP are still investigating to verify that everybody has been accounted for from the building," said Rowsell.

Accounted for

In a statement issued Saturday afternoon, the RCMP said after officersarrived at the scene there was one woman being treated by paramedics for minor injuries.

It believes that all hotel guestshas been accounted for.

"At this time, fire services continue their work and there's no public safety risks associated with the propane tank at the scene. RCMP officers will remain at the scene to provide traffic control," said the statement.

Concern that propane tanks on the property could cause an explosion caused the RCMP to issue an evacuation notice to the area hours ago but Rowsell said the tanks were removed from the property early in the morning.

Rowsell said multiple fire crews responded to the fire, coming from Reidville, Cormack and Pasadena.

"The city of Corner Brook has offered up its services and we've declined at this time because it was pretty much under control."

Helping hand

Frank Pittman, a major with the Salvation Army, said volunteers are on hand to provide food and refreshment for the firefighters.

"Because they have an important task there and we just want to step to one side and provide them with all the food and refreshments that they need to keep going," said Pittman.

"We opened our church this morning for all the people who were evacuated from the hotel. And we were able to bring them to our church."

He estimates they providedabout70 guests and evacuated residents with refreshments, personal care items and clothes. Since then, the guests have moved on to other locations.

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