Fire Report - Fall 2020
The Lionshead Fire, fueled by high winds and extremely dry conditions, converged on the Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat Center and Breitenbush-Devils Creek communities, forcing everyone to leave the area on Monday, September 7, 2020. All guests and residents were evacuated safely and without incident.
Six members of the BFD stayed until early morning September 8 when conditions became too extreme. Two firefighters were left to shelter in place and defend the area, supported that afternoon by a second group of three coming in from the north. The five worked through the next two days and nights suppressing fires, setting sprinklers around buildings, and protecting structures.
Despite many structures being damaged or destroyed at the retreat center in the initial firestorm, no more were lost once the firefighters were on site. Losses include all guest cabins, a maintenance facility, and 5-6 staff houses, but the historic lodge and several other iconic buildings, such as the sauna, office, and kitchen building were saved. The summer homes community is in an area that is still too dangerous to fully assess; it is most likely that most if not all of the 80 cabins have been destroyed.
Our current priorities are helping to determine the extent of damage and inform concerned residents, and working with the hot springs to stabilize any collateral damage that will occur with fall and winter rain and snow, ensuring hazardous materials are not infiltrating the Breitenbush River, etc.
We continue to be vigilant in the area, maintaining a minimum of personnel in the area, doing regular patrols to ensure safety of buildings and other infrastructure. We have invited regional firefighters and our own BFD members to work in pairs out of our firehouse, providing service to the area.
Jordan Pollack, Fire Chief
The Lionshead Fire, fueled by high winds and extremely dry conditions, converged on the Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat Center and Breitenbush-Devils Creek communities, forcing everyone to leave the area on Monday, September 7, 2020. All guests and residents were evacuated safely and without incident.
Six members of the BFD stayed until early morning September 8 when conditions became too extreme. Two firefighters were left to shelter in place and defend the area, supported that afternoon by a second group of three coming in from the north. The five worked through the next two days and nights suppressing fires, setting sprinklers around buildings, and protecting structures.
Despite many structures being damaged or destroyed at the retreat center in the initial firestorm, no more were lost once the firefighters were on site. Losses include all guest cabins, a maintenance facility, and 5-6 staff houses, but the historic lodge and several other iconic buildings, such as the sauna, office, and kitchen building were saved. The summer homes community is in an area that is still too dangerous to fully assess; it is most likely that most if not all of the 80 cabins have been destroyed.
Our current priorities are helping to determine the extent of damage and inform concerned residents, and working with the hot springs to stabilize any collateral damage that will occur with fall and winter rain and snow, ensuring hazardous materials are not infiltrating the Breitenbush River, etc.
We continue to be vigilant in the area, maintaining a minimum of personnel in the area, doing regular patrols to ensure safety of buildings and other infrastructure. We have invited regional firefighters and our own BFD members to work in pairs out of our firehouse, providing service to the area.
Jordan Pollack, Fire Chief
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