By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter with files from Geoff Smith @GeoffSmithLNN

Barons Hotel destroyed by fire

Jul 19, 2018 | 1:33 PM

BARONS – Fire crews are now mopping up hotspots following a blaze that leveled the old hotel in the Village of Barons.

Picture Butte RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Tom Howell, says the call came in to them around 9:21 a.m. on Thursday, July 19.

He noted that firefighters from Barons, Picture Butte, and Nobleford were able to contain the fire, and while the hotel was completely lost, they were able to keep it from spreading to a neighbouring business, which suffered only minor damage. Howell added that no one was injured, and no one was living in the hotel, which has been shutdown for some time.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, with Howell saying it’s too early to rule anything out. He stated that they will release more information as it becomes available.

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Barons Mayor Ed Weistra also spoke with Lethbridge News Now, explaining that he was impressed with the work on those involved in fighting the fire, particularly the village’s volunteer crew.

“I’m really happy our fire department was there right away,” said Weistra. “I give kudos to those guys, I mean, they’ve been training and training and training… They do an awesome job and I take my hat off to them for doing it for free.”

Weistra stated that the Barons Hotel and its restaurant had been out of business for some time, adding that there had been some talk by the current owner of trying to revive the business.

“It’s 100 years old, it’s as old as the village,” Weistra said, as he discussed the building’s history. “It’s had many facelifts and there’s been so many people that have history in that building. The people that are in the senior’s centre can tell you stories about all the parties they’ve had in there and all the good times where people gathered – that was like the gathering point for the town.”

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