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

Deer Lake Fire Rescue fire chief Stephen Rowsell says fire crews from the town and surrounding communities have managed to almost contain the fire at the Driftwood Inn and are now looking to put out remaining hotspots. RCMP say one woman has been treated for minor injuries.

Fire chief says four fire crews responded to battle a blaze that broke out Saturday morning

Elizabeth Whitten · CBC News · Posted: Oct 19, 2024 8:39 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 19

A street with a building missing it's second floor. There is a fire truck spraying water on it. — Deer Lake Fire Rescue fire chief Stephen Rowsell says while the fire is still active, it is contained to the Driftwood Inn. (Sanuda Ranawake/CBC)

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 officers arrived at the scene there was one woman being treated by paramedics for minor injuries.

It believes that all hotel guests has 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.

Firefighter with helmet that says Rowsell on it. Behind him is a firetruck and a building. — Deer Lake Fire Rescue fire chief Stephen Rowsell says the cause of the fire is currently unknown. (Sanuda Ranawake/CBC)

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."

A view from a street looking at a building. Behind it there is smoke and fire trucks parked around it. — The fire that broke out at Deer Lake's Driftwood Inn in the early morning hours of Saturday has destroyed the building. (Sanuda Ranawake/CBC)

He estimates they provided about 70 guests and evacuated residents with refreshments, personal care items and clothes. Since then, the guests have moved on to other locations.

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.