The fire destroyed a unit at the motel.
A unit of a former motel has been destroyed and another damaged by a blaze in Arrowtown this afternoon.
The township's deputy chief fire officer, Greg Potter, said the alarm was raised about 1.30pm by the occupant of the neighbouring unit, who checked to see if anyone was inside after seeing smoke coming from the roof.
It took only 10 minutes for 35 firefighters and four appliances from Arrowtown, Frankton and Queenstown to put out the fire, which was ''going pretty well'' when they arrived.
One unit of the former Mace Motel, which is now used for rental accommodation, was destroyed and its sole tenant's possessions ''completely lost''. he said.
The neighbouring unit sustained smoke and water damage.
