A Nova Scotia hotel built in the late 1800s caught national attention early Thursday morning when an apparent kitchen fire brought the building to the ground.
The incident forced dozens of people to evacuate the Inverary Resort, including Prince George City Councillor Frank Everitt and his wife, Kathy, who happened to be vacationing at the century-old structure.
“I was awakened in the middle of the night by a pounding on the door,” explains Councillor Everitt.
“And someone saying there was a fire. So, we threw out stuff together as quickly as possible and went downstairs and I called 911.”
The hotel, located in the town of Baddeck on Cape Breton Island is claimed as a historic landmark as Everitt says it’s full of antiques and surrounded by several Forts near the Bras d’Or Lake, feeding into the Atlantic Ocean.
Everitt and his wife are grateful first responders were able to put out the flames.
“We went there for a bit of sightseeing, but this sight was definitely one that elevated your heart very quickly and you wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. Thank God everybody got out of there safely.”
The fire destroyed the hotel’s main building and local crews are continuing to investigate its cause.
The Everitt’s are returning safely to Prince George this weekend.
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