MT HOOD, Oregon — Around 120 guests at Timberline Lodge were evacuated Thursday night after a fire broke out on the building's roof.
Jenny Taylor and Jim Snyder were two of those guests that were evacuated. They were in the hot tub with other guests when they first noticed the flames.
“A whole group of people were in the hot tub when we started to see sparks flying," said Taylor. “People were getting out and the alarms were going off, so we went and got clothes."
Taylor added that the Timberline staff handled the evacuation "remarkably well."
A Timberline spokesperson said embers from the building’s fireplace are suspected to have started the fire.
“We are extremely fortunate that our first responders did a remarkable and amazing job last night,” said John Burton, the director of marketing and public affairs with Timberline Lodge.
Fire crews spent Friday afternoon assessing the damage in the building’s lobby area after water sprayed onto the building leaked into the area.
"The fire crews were saturating the roof of the hotel for a couple of hours," said Burton. "Most people know that there is a lot of remarkable art in Timberline. I have received reports this morning of a couple of those pieces being damaged, I do not know the extent. Last night, a lot of the art was either moved or removed from the hotel."
Crews were also inspecting the structural integrity of the building on Friday afternoon. KGW was told by Timberline staff, that if all goes as expected, the lodge will reopen on Sunday. The ski area is scheduled to reopen on Saturday.