People were evacuated to a recreation centre after fire destroyed the Franklin Hotel and Bar in Assiniboia early Tuesday morning. (Submitted by Landon Ullrich)

A historic hotel in Assiniboia, Sask., was in rubble Tuesday morning following a huge fire.

The Franklin Hotel, first known as the El Prado Hotel when it was built in 1913, burned to the ground along with several businesses. The fire on Centre Street is believed to have started some time after 2 a.m., according to the RCMP.

Smoke was already pouring out of the hotel when ambulance attendant Landon Ullrich arrived on the scene at 3 a.m.

"It didn't take long after that for the outside walls to start going up in flames," Ullrich said. "Eventually the roof collapsed. From there, the fire department went into a defensive position, trying to save the surrounding buildings."

But one neighbouring business, Great West Auto Electric, burned to the ground.

The hotel was evacuated, as was a one-block radius around the blaze. Guests at the nearby Wheel Inn Motel and Bar-B Inn were also taken away and put up at the local recreation centre.

There was no indication Tuesday morning that anybody had been hurt.

Fire crews were called in from Mossbank and Willow Bunch to help the Assiniboia volunteers.

The Franklin Hotel was popular among locals and hunters and featured an active restaurant and bar and a Mr. Sub franchise.

Assiniboia, a town of 2,300 people, is located about 175 kilometres southwest of Regina.