Pern said he received a call after 10pm to say the straw roof was on fire.
He praised employees for their early attempts to put out the blaze.
Pern said he had no idea how the fire started but the thatched roof was the perfect fuel.
North Yorkshire fire and rescue service said crews attended the fire at 10.13pm on Tuesday and all of the occupants were out of the building on arrival.
The Star Inn, on the edge of the North York Moors, has won many awards including UK gastropub of the year.