Fire destroys Sask. village's only hotel

Fire has destroyed the lone hotel in the village of Prelate in southwest Saskatchewan.

A post office worker noticed smoke coming from the 97-year-old building just before 8 a.m. local time Monday,Mayor Jeannine Schmaltz said.

Fire crews were brought in from surrounding towns to fight the blaze, but they couldn't save the building, Schmaltz said.

"It's all caved in," Schmaltz said. "Right now, it's just smouldering."

It's a loss for the entire village, Schmaltz said.

"They had moderate business and so, you know, the regulars are going to have to find another place to drink liquor," she said.

No one was in the hotel at the time.

Fire crews werekeeping an eye onthe smouldering remains Monday afternoon. Officials haven't said anything about the possible cause of the fire.

Prelate, which has a population of about 130, is 300 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon.