Timberline Lodge fire causes little damage. Ski resort to reopen Saturday

A fireplace on the historic Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood Thursday evening seems to have prompted comparatively minor harm.

The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives are investigating the trigger.

“Its suspected that embers from the fireside, the principle hearth within the headhouse, ignited the roof,” stated John Burton, director of promoting and public relations for Timberline Lodge. “The fireplace didn’t penetrate to the inside of the lodge.”

Talking on OPB’s “Suppose Out Loud,” Burton stated firefighters doused the roof and chimney of the lodge for hours with water, leaving a moist mess for clean-up crews on Friday. The fireplace closed the ski resort, however Burton stated the plan was to reopen the ski space and day lodge on Saturday and the historic lodge on Sunday, following structural inspections.

The lodge, devoted in 1937, is crammed with artwork from that period. Burton stated a number of the paintings and furnishings was eliminated Thursday night.

“I don’t have an evaluation on these items but, however there will likely be some restoration required for certain,” he stated.

Clackamas Fireplace District officers stated lodge workers reported a hearth within the attic round 9:30 p.m.

Everybody contained in the constructing was in a position to get out by the point fireplace crews arrived. No accidents had been reported. The fireplace was extinguished by 2 a.m. Friday.

Crews from Clackamas, Gresham, Hoodland, Estacada and Portland all responded, with some 18 water, engine and ladder vehicles.

“Within the huge image, it’s type of benign, for lack of a greater description,” Burton stated. “We’re fairly fortunate.”