Fire engulfs historic country hotel

Fire has destroyed the historic Fat Lamb Hotel at Eugowra in the New South Wales central west.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at the hotel in Eugowra, east of Forbes, earlier this morning.

The blaze has now been brought under control and fire fighters are trying to stop it spreading to other buildings.

Fire Inspector Chris Sedgewick says crews are trying to prevent the eastern wall of the hotel from collapsing.

"We're taking measures to contain the fire to that building," he said.

Fire crews have battled to control a blaze which broke out in the historic Fat Lamb Hotel at Eugowra, NSW.

"We're making sure the embers don't go across and radiant heat doesn't go across and affect the other buildings or cause them to catch fire."

Inspector Sedgewick says people who were inside the hotel when the blaze began have managed to escape.

"When we arrived the hotel I'm afraid it was well alight," he said.

"But all people have been accounted for so we're not searching for anybody within the building.

"We have large streams of water on it at the present time."

The iconic hotel was built in the 1860s and was originally named the John Bull Inn.

Eugowra resident David Hyde says the loss of the Fat Lamb will be a huge blow to the community.

He says the hotel has been damaged by fire in the past.

"It's a very iconic part of the community, it sits there and has done for many years," he said.

"Apparently, going back in its life there has been a fire before when it was called The John Bull and that completely obliterated the first building there."

Source: ABC News, 22 October 2012