Fire breaks out at ‘The Shining’ hotel: Flames rip through Oregon’s historic Timberline Lodge which featured in Jack Nicholson’s famed 1980 horror movie
- Four different fire departments were called to the scene in the community of Government Camp, about 60 miles east of Portland, at 9:30 p.m. after a fire broke out in the building’s attic.
An inferno broke out at the historic Timberline Lodge in Oregon on Thursday evening. The hotel and ski area was made famous in 1980 as the setting for the horror classic The Shining.
Four different fire departments were called to the scene in the community of Government Camp, about 60 miles east of Portland, at 9:30 p.m. after a fire broke out in the building’s attic.
An official said rescuers are trying to preserve the lodge’s “historic assets,” reports Fox Portland.
At the time of writing, consideration has been given to staff and guests who were at the lodge when the fire broke out. It was employees who called 911.
The fire was largely extinguished by 11 p.m. local time, an official said The Oregonian. Firefighters continue to spray water on site due to the wind blowing in the area.
Four different fire departments were called to the scene in the community of Government Camp, about 60 miles east of Portland, at 9:30 p.m. after a fire broke out in the building’s attic.
Employees called 911 to report the fire around 9:30 p.m
In addition to firefighters, conservationists were also on site to ensure historic properties were preserved.
John Burton, marketing director for the lodge, told The Oregonian that the possible cause of the fire was embers from the hotel’s main chimney.
The departments that responded to the scene were the Hoodland Fire, Clackamas Fire, Gresham Fire and Estacada Fire. “We can’t thank them enough,” Burton told the newspaper.
Portland Fire & Resuce also sent a ladder truck and a battalion chief to the scene, reports said KMTR.
During the fire, the fire brigade successfully brought the fire in the roof and attic under control.
Crews initially tried to put out the fire with extinguishers, but were unsuccessful. From there they went door to door to get the hotel guests out safely. reports KGW.
As a result of the fire, Oregon State Police closed roads to the lodge.
Timberline Lodge is located on the south slope of Mount Hood in Oregon, at an elevation of 6,000 feet.
Built in 1937 at the height of the Great Depression by local visionaries as a Works Progress Administration project, it spans 55,000 square feet.
The lodge achieved national monument status in December 1977, prior to the filming of The Shining.
In March, a fire broke out again in the lodge, not in the hotel but close to one of the ski slopes. Unlike many ski areas in the US, the Timberline advertises year-round skiing.
During the fire, the fire brigade successfully brought the fire in the roof and attic under control
Photos from the scene show snow is still on the ground as the fire continues to burn
The lodge was made famous worldwide when it was featured in the 1980 horror classic The Shining
The Timberline Lodge was used for the exterior shots used in the Stanley Kubrick film