A fire destroyed the West Hawk Inn in the Whiteshell on Friday. Fire officials said the structure is a total loss and damage is pegged at $1 million.

RCMP said no one was inside the inn at the time of the fire. Police said they were called around 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 29.

Due to the wind direction, a nearby campground had to be evacuated while fire crews battled the blaze.

One camper was treated for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported, said RCMP.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and the Office of the Fire Commissioner will be working with RCMP to investigate.

Southeast Whiteshell Fire Chief Bruce Morrison said it was a hard fire to tackle because it spread quickly throughout the old structure and got into the attic.

Two other nearby fire crews, including one from Ontario and another from Manitoba, came to assist.

They didn't have equipment to tear open the metal roof, but got the fire out around 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Stephen Dare, owner of the West Wok restaurant attached to the West Hawk Inn, said he almost cried when flames engulfed his business.

He's owned it for five years.

He and restaurant staff use residences behind it.

He was sleeping there when he got a call Friday morning to get out because smoke was coming out of the roof. He said he has a propane tank near the restaurant and knew itcould blow at any minute so he and a waitress left. He got his truck out, but lost everything else.

Residents and visitors to West Hawk continue contacting Dare to say how sad they are that the place is gone, saying it’s an institution that's been around for decades.

- with a report from Alesia Fieldberg