Cause of historic Qld hotel blaze unknown

Firefighters continue to investigate the cause of a blaze which engulfed an historic southeast Queensland hotel.

The Imperial Hotel at Gatton was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Thursday, just months after the local council raised fears it was a fire death trap.

The 19th-century-built pub which closed in 2013 had been operating illegally as a hostel earlier this year.

A Supreme Court injunction was launched in July by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services against the owners for running illegal and unsafe backpacker accommodation.

There were no smoke alarms or emergency lighting fitted in the building.

The hotel was empty when the fire occurred and the cause remains unknown.