Fire Destroys Ski Lodge in Southwestern Pennsylvania

A massive fire visible for miles leveled a ski lodge at a southwestern Pennsylvania resort, with some areas still burning until daybreak Monday.

The fire broke out around 8 p.m. Sunday at Mystic Mountain ski lodge at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, officials said. A resort spokesman said the building was fully engulfed just minutes after the blaze was reported.

All employees made it out of the building safely but one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation, officials said.

Farmington Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian VanSickle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the fire was the worst he’s seen in 22 years.

By the time firefighters arrived, smoke was pouring from the lodge, VanSickle said. The heat of the flames damaged some equipment while firefighters from four counties struggled with deep snow and single-digit temperatures that froze one fire hydrant.

“We were whipped when we pulled in,” VanSickle said. “We couldn’t see anything.”

A state police fire marshal will investigate the cause of the fire.

The lodge is part of the 2,000-acre Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County, about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh. The resort includes two golf courses, hotels, dining and a private airstrip.

The resort had just finished its annual WinterFest Weekend, spokesman Jeff Nobers said.

General manager Chris Plummer said the resort is already working to set up replacement operations for guests, including ski rentals and food and beverage service.

“We’re going to ski, simple as that,” Plummer told KDKA-TV. “It’s what we do.”