The Wiliams Lake Fire Department was called to a structure fire just after midnight Sunday, June 8, behind the Hamilton Hotel.
Assistant Fire Chief Cory Boyd said they were paged at 12:11 a.m.
"Initially when we came there a large part of the structure was already full involved," he told the Tribune Sunday morning. "We were able immediately to make sure the Hamilton Hotel was OK and they were evacuated."
It took crews an hour to about an hour-and-a-half to get the fire knocked down, he said.
Firefighters remained on scene to ensure the hot spots were all gone and wouldn't light up again before returning to the fire hall around 6 a.m. where they were still putting away equipment at 6:30 a.m.
"Nobody was in the structure and nobody got hurt as far as we could tell," Boyd confirmed.
For its response they used Engine 11, Ladder 11, Engine 14 and two duty pickups.
"The ladder aerial was used to knock down most of the fire throughout to gain access. It being kind of a derelict abandoned building we were just really cautious not to send anyone inside. We did the best we could and luckily we could access both sides of the building."
BC Emergency Health Services also responded, along with the RCMP.
In 2023 there was fire at the site and in 2012.
The Hamilton Inn presently operates as a low barrier emergency homeless shelter operated by Canadian Mental Health.
