A Queenstown hotel had to be temporarily evacuated today following a fire which started in the hotel's kitchen.
Southern fire communications shift manager Karl Patterson said they were alerted to the blaze at the Discovery Sherwood Hotel in Goldfield Heights around 5.15pm.
The fire did not spread beyond the kitchen, he said.
"The kitchen area was well ablaze when we arrived."
The seriousness of the fire was raised to 'third alarm' status and four engines responded - three from Queenstown and one from Frankton, Mr Patterson said.
The hotel's office manager Lynn Philpott said the hotel was immediately evacuated when the fire broke out.
While there were only around 12 guests in the hotel at the time, 70 of the hotel's 78 rooms were currently occupied.
"There was lots of smoke ... it's not a nice feeling."
The fire hadn't caused any structural damage to the hotel and guests were able to return and stay in their rooms, Ms Philpott said.
- By Brendan Manning of APNZ
