Blaze At Iconic Timberline Lodge On Mount Hood Quickly Contained

A fire erupted Thursday night at the historic Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, a landmark familiar to Oregonians and moviegoers alike. Thankfully, the fire was contained by firefighters early Friday morning, and no injuries were reported.

In a statement Timberline Lodge Ski Area announced that the ski resort will be closed on Friday, April 19.

“Thursday night, at approximately 9:30pm a fire was reported at Timberline Lodge in the headhouse attic and its exterior roof area. All hotel guests and staff were immediately evacuated with no injuries or incident. First responders were on scene shortly thereafter, extinguishing the fire by approximately 11:00pm. There is an ongoing investigation as to the cause, but it is suspected fireplace embers ignited the roof. At first glance, the damage is somewhat minimal with water contained in headhouse and lobby areas and no internal fire or smoke damage. Power has been restored and guests have been moved offsite.

The hotel will be closed until further notice. The ski area will be closed today Friday April 19. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Timberline employees, Hoodland Fire, Clackamas County and Gresham first responders did an amazing job. The process, communication and containment saved the Historic Timberline Lodge from what could have been a much worse outcome.”

Lodge staff called 911 around 9:30 pm after noticing flames in the attic. Fire crews from Hoodland, Clackamas, Gresham, and Estacada responded swiftly to the scene. The blaze was extinguished by 2:00 am, with firefighters remaining on site to monitor for any potential rekindling due to high winds.

Firefighters said "The fire at Timberline Lodge was declared under control at 11:12 p.m. The fire was kept to the roof & part of the attic, & didn’t spread any further. Crews are clearing the scene. The U.S. Forest Service will be conducting the investigation with the help of federal resources'

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but early reports suggest it may have been sparked by fireplace embers. The extent of the damage is also being assessed, although initial reports indicate it is minimal, mostly water damage in the headhouse and lobby areas.

The iconic building, constructed in 1937 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, famously served as the exterior for the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Shining.”

Timberline Ski Area, located adjacent to the lodge, is currently closed due to the fire. The lodge itself is also closed to the public for the time being as damage assessments are conducted.