Two people and a dog were rescued from a cottage next to the Ballacallin Hotel at Dalby when a devastating blaze broke out last night.

The former hotel and pub partially collapsed and the roof fell in as the fire took hold in the early hours of this morning.Smoke was still billowing from parts of the building and sections of roof continuing to collapse this lunchtime and relief incident commander Station Officer David Dallimore said the property was still too dangerous to enter.A joint police and fire service investigation will begin once the fire is completely extinguished.Red watch from Douglas fire station was joined by retained firefighters from Peel and Douglas to battle the blaze.Fire crews arrived at the scene to find flames had spread throughout the building.

Due to a lack of major water supplies nearby some 45 firefighters worked in rotation to ensure that water could be transported from the closest hydrants.

Two people and their dog were led to safety from a cottage behind the old hotel. They were checked over by paramedics.

Thankfully they did not require hospital admission and their home was not damaged.

Firefighters worked through the night to bring the blaze under control. Relief crews are still at the site and will remain there for a number of hours.Station Officer Dallimore said conditions were very difficult for the firefighters overnight with water from the jets running off the building and immediately freezing.He said crews would be there for some time. ‘ We are still coming across hot spots. It’s not safe and I can’t put people in there,’ he said.‘There will be a police and fire investigation but we have to make sure it is fully extinguished first.’The former hotel had been empty for many years and had become increasingly derelict.