Historic Westminster Hotel destroyed in Dawson City fire

A historic hotel in Dawson City has been destroyed following a major fire that tore through the gold-rush era building on Sunday.

The Westminster Hotel, known locally as The Pit, was engulfed in flames as thick black smoke rose above the Yukon community.

Images and videos shared on social media showed firefighters battling the blaze as flames spread through the three-storey wooden structure.

Dawson City Mayor Stephen Johnson confirmed the loss of the building in a Facebook post, calling the news heartbreaking for the community.

Johnson said he was grateful no lives were lost in the fire.

The Westminster Hotel had long been considered a landmark in Dawson City and a gathering place for residents and visitors alike.

“Losing it feels personal because it is personal,” Johnson wrote in his statement.

The building had already suffered damage earlier this year after a water main burst during extreme cold weather in January, flooding nearby streets and affecting the hotel bar.

The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.