A boutique hotel under construction in Windsor's Wyandotte Town Centre neighbourhood is gone.
Firefighters remain on the scene of the fire at the corner of Wyandotte Street East and Parent Avenue, and at least one crew will likely stay through the afternoon.
Fire crews responded to the fire at 4 a.m. on Thursday, and Windsor Fire and Rescue Services Chief Stephen Laforet said flames fully engulfed the building when firefighters arrived.
He added the building was secure, and fire crews went to work trying to put the flames out from outside the hotel.
So far, officials don't know how it started, and Laforet said they may never know.
"We haven't had a chance as of yet to have a fire investigator take a look at it," said Laforet. "With the amount of damage, it may be difficult to determine an exact cause."
He said the fire service would be in touch with the City of Windsor Building Department next to decide what to do with the property, but he said the building could be a write-off.
Fire Prevention Officer John Smith said the initial damage estimate is between $1.5- and $2-million, but it could be more depending on how far along the renovation was.
No one was hurt, but the flames sent thick, black clouds of smoke over the neighbourhood on Friday morning.
