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Madison Co. ski lodge, lift destroyed by fire
By Stefanie Quaal
Updated: 03/26/2014 5:45 am MDT
Several fire departments in western North Carolina were called to the Wolf Ridge Ski Resort in Madison County early Wednesday morning.
Madison County dispatchers said the call came in around 1:30 a.m. from a security guard that the resort's upper lodge was engulfed in flames and had partially collapsed.
Firefighters said several people called to report the fire, which could be seen several miles away as the upper lodge sits about 4,000 feet high.
Firefighters on the scene said there are two lodges at the resort, and the upper one was destroyed.
The winter weather isn't making it any easier. Fire crews said they are only letting one vehicle up the hill at a time because the road getting to the lodge is so iced over. Firefighters said the wind helped drive the fire, destroying the upper lodge and ski lift.
Additional crews were called in from Wolf Laurel to help salt the roads so tanker trucks could get up the hill.
Firefighters said once the building was destroyed, they stopped fighting the fire about 5:15 a.m., and deputies are watching the site until it is safer for crews to return to investigate the cause. They are expected to return to the scene Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters said no one was injured in the fire.
By Stefanie Quaal
Updated: 03/26/2014 5:45 am MDT
Several fire departments in western North Carolina were called to the Wolf Ridge Ski Resort in Madison County early Wednesday morning.
Madison County dispatchers said the call came in around 1:30 a.m. from a security guard that the resort's upper lodge was engulfed in flames and had partially collapsed.
Firefighters said several people called to report the fire, which could be seen several miles away as the upper lodge sits about 4,000 feet high.
Firefighters on the scene said there are two lodges at the resort, and the upper one was destroyed.
The winter weather isn't making it any easier. Fire crews said they are only letting one vehicle up the hill at a time because the road getting to the lodge is so iced over. Firefighters said the wind helped drive the fire, destroying the upper lodge and ski lift.
Additional crews were called in from Wolf Laurel to help salt the roads so tanker trucks could get up the hill.
Firefighters said once the building was destroyed, they stopped fighting the fire about 5:15 a.m., and deputies are watching the site until it is safer for crews to return to investigate the cause. They are expected to return to the scene Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters said no one was injured in the fire.
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Wolf Ridge has 2 fixed quads, two doubles and a platter. The damaged lift is either a 2006 Doppelmayr CTEC quad or a 1980 Borvig double. The area had already closed for the season back on March 9th.
