GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. — Editor's note: For the latest updates, click here.
Timberline Lodge will reopen on Sunday, pending that inspections go on as expected, after a fire that broke out in the attic of the historic lodge in Government Camp on Thursday night. The ski area will reopen on Saturday.
At around 11:10 p.m. Thursday, John Burton, the marketing director at Timberline Lodge, said the fire was out. He told KGW that he thinks embers from the main chimney caused the fire. Employees tried to put out the fire in the attic area using extinguishers, but were unable to do so. They went door-to-door, evacuating guests.
All guests were able to safely evacuate the lodge and no injuries were reported. Timberline said 120 guests were staying at the lodge, which was about half full.
Reports of the fire first started coming in around 9:30 p.m. A live camera from outside the lodge showed flames coming from the corner of the building. Fire crews from Hoodland Fire, Clackamas Fire, Gresham Fire and Estacada Fire responded and worked to help put out the flames, Clackamas Fire District reported.
Fire officials have not released details about the extent of damage to the historic building. Timberline management said there was a lot of water inside the main lobby area and teams were working to move artwork and furniture. Timberline said damage inside appears to be minimal, with no internal smoke or fire damage.
"This is a first one for us here at Timberline," Burton said. "I think we just need to look at this as it could have been a lot worse. It was extremely windy (Thursday night) so it didn't help the cause, but can't say thank the first responders enough."
Cheri Boat, who lives in Gresham, was staying at Timberline Lodge for her husband's birthday when the fire broke out. Boat said she was sitting by the fireplace when the fire alarms went off. She thought it was a fire drill at first, but then staff confirmed it was not a drill and ushered them outside.
"When we came outside initially there was some glowing behind the building," Boat said. "A lot of embers flying too and it smelled like fire."
Boat said the Timberline staff helped keep everyone calm during a scary situation.
"It was a pretty crazy night, unexpected! But happy we're safe," Boat said. "And the staff did an amazing job."
Jon Rasmussen, of Tacoma, was staying the night and getting ready for bed when the fire alarm went off.
"Grabbed what we could and headed out like you should," Rasmussen said. "Didn't think too much of it until we got out and then I could see embers coming over the roof."
Rasmussen said he came to Mount Hood to snow skate.
"It's tragic, I love that lodge. I've stayed there like five or six times now," he said.
He added he had to sleep in his van in nearby Welches.
"We didn't even get our one night," he said.
Investigators with the U.S. Forest Service and ATF are working to determine the official cause of the fire.
Timberline Lodge is located on the south slope of Mount Hood in Clackamas County, Oregon, at an elevation of 6,000 feet. It was constructed in 1937 by local artisans during the Great Depression. The property measures 55,000 square feet. It was declared a national landmark in Dec. 1977.
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