A devastating fire has left hearts broken in the City of Winkler.
Fire erupted at the Quality Inn and Suites on Main Street on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a swift response from the Winkler Fire Department and other emergency services.
According to a statement from Schinkel Properties, which owns and operates the hotel, the fire was first reported on the roof. All hotel and restaurant guests, staff, and pets inside at the time were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
That same release indicated, at that time, the cause of the fire was unknown pending further investigation.
Tuesday evening an excavator was brought in to tear down the most heavily damage section of the hotel, the central part of the building which housed the pool area among other facilities.
Winkler Fire Chief Richard Paetzold told PembinaValleyOnline Wednesday morning a fire investigator will be on scene this morning.
As thick smoke poured from the structure, portions of Main Street and Highway 14 were shut down.
Firefighters are hard at work to contain the situation.
By 8 p.m., firefighters remained hard at work at the scene, continuing efforts to fully extinguish the blaze and secure the building.
Operations at the hotel will remain suspended pending a full investigation and confirmation that the premises are safe to reenter.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
With files from Kylee Bailey