Rikli Balance, one of the largest hotels in the lakeside resort town of Bled, was evacuated in the early hours on 18 October due to a fire. The blaze caused significant damage, but none of the guests or staff sustained serious injuries.

The fire was reported just after half past two, a spokesperson for the Kranj Police Department said, adding that the entire hotel was evacuated.

It took several volunteer brigades and a professional brigade from Jesenice around two hours to put out the fire, after which police investigation started.

Hotel guests have been provided with alternative accommodation. Three persons were treated for smoke inhalation but have since been discharged into home care, the police said.

Peter Križnar, executive director assistant at Sava Hoteli Bled, said that finding accommodation for the guests, who spent an hour and a half outside, was top priority after the fire broke out.

"We've put them up in our other hotels: Savica, Park and Grand Hotel Toplice. The neighbouring Kompas Hotel offered their accommodation as well, so some of the guests are staying there."

While the fire was contained to the sauna area, the nearby indoor pools will have to remain closed until the spa centre is renovated. The rest of the hotel is expected to reopen next week, after it will have been cleaned and aired out.

"The damage is significant, but at the moment it is hard to say how high it will run," said Križnar, adding that renovation will start immediately, as the winter season is around the corner.

This is the second hotel fire in Slovenia in as many days. The previous morning a fire broke out at Hotel Slon in Ljubljana city centre due to a faulty electrical cabinet, but was quickly put out.

Several guests were evacuated but were able to return to their rooms in about half an hour. No one was injured and the hotel management said the fire did not cause any material damage. There was black smoke billowing from the building.