MOUNT HOOD, OR -- Timberline Lodge reopened Sunday, following last week’s three-alarm fire. "The investigation is still ongoing and they are just starting the damage assessments to the exterior and interior of the building," says Heather Ibsen, with the Mt. Hood National Forest, "It ignited the roof, and there’s definitely roof damage. But, thankfully, the quick response of firefighters and Timberline employees really have limited that fire damage." Ten engines, three ladder trucks and five water tenders responded from five fire agencies late Thursday night. 

A bigger problem may be from the water, "And that water came into the roof, into the chimney and into the beams inside," says Ibsen. "They have people up there, drying things out with blowers, air scrubbers, tarps, all these different things, to try and get the moisture levels down. And then they can really kind of have a better feel for what the damage is and what repairs next steps are."

She says staff and firefighters from five agencies quickly moved paintings out of harm’s way, and did their best to protect the rest, "The lodge is filled with historic artwork and a lot of carvings and paintings and even metalworking in the doors that is original to the 1930s and part of that New Deal Works Progress administration artists and craftspeople. That kind of craftsmanship is all but gone today."

Staff are now helping visitors navigate around damaged areas, "Most people shouldn’t notice anything different in their experience. It is a building that’s owned by the American public. It’s owned by the Forest Service, operated for the American public and so anybody is welcome to come up, just to take a look around this historic building, at any time."

Timberline was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and is one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. It's operated under an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. 

 

Photos courtesy of the US Forest Svc.