Poley Mountain Ski Resort lodge destroyed by fire

A major fire has been put out at Poley Mountain Ski Resort.

General manager Bill Anderson estimates the damages at $3 million.

At about 10 p.m. RCMP Const. Jullie Rogers-Marsh said the fire was out, although hot spots were still being put out. The main building is completely destroyed.

No one was in the building and there are no injuries, she said.

The fire marshal has been contacted and they are still trying to figure out the cause.

The ski resort is located in Sussex, N.B. and employs about 180 full and part-time employees during ski season.

Larry Adair operates Adair's Wilderness Lodge, which is located close to Poley Mountain. He learned about the fire when a firefighter, who was having dinner at the lodge, received a text about it at around 6:30 p.m.

The firefighter then left to go fight the fire.

Adair and his wife decided to go see the fire at about 6:50 p.m. The two took a back road so they wouldn't block traffic.

"We looked across and it was fully engulfed, the whole complete building lodge," said Adair.

He says the fire will have an impact on his business.

"It's definitely going to to affect us for a while," said Adair.

Poley Mountain had planned on opening for the season on Friday, but announced on Twitter before the fire that the season opening would be delayed until Dec. 19.

In a tweet, New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant shared his thoughts about the fire.

"Saddened to see the loss of the iconic Poley Mountain lodge this evening, a true loss to N.B.," he wrote.

RCMP say the call for the fire came in at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday.