Fire destroys Ben Lomond hotel ahead of Tasmanian ski season
Updated
A fire has ripped through a popular hotel at a ski field in Tasmania's north.
Emergency crews were called to the blaze at the Ben Lomond Alpine Hotel about 10:30pm on Tuesday.
The hotel and attached building were extensively damaged, but no-one was injured.
In a post on the hotel's social media page, staff said they were "devastated" by the events.
"The cause of the fire is currently being investigated," the post said.
"We thank the fire service for their hard work overnight and into today."
Ben Lomond Snow Sports owner Geoff Foot said he saw the hotel engulfed by flames at midnight.
"Everything was alight, I'm afraid. It was a real sorry sight to see," he said.
He said the loss of the facilities would be a concern during upcoming ski season.
"There is a day shelter which houses the toilets for the village so it's going to be a bit of a problem for Parks and Wildlife to get toilets re-instated," he said.
"The pub was burnt to the ground as well, so that's a problem for people with food and drink.
"The staff building is OK, I think the six units are OK, but it's mainly the pub is that part that's gone," he said.
Northern Tasmanian Alpine Club President Greg Rowlings said the fire was a loss for the community.
"The hotel has been around for the past 30-plus years and is probably the heartbeat of the region," he said.
"It's a great place. It's a meeting place. It's a venue for people to go and unwind after a long day.
"Just to see the amount of devastation that's gone through, not only the Alpine Hotel but also the day shelter up there, it's going to have a huge impact on day visitors and tourists alike."
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