Lodge severely damaged by fire

Press, 9 December 1976, Page 3

Lodge severely damaged by fire

Staff reporter

Fire, fanned by a light north-westerly wind, gutted the lounge, four staff bedrooms, and the staff kitchen at Glencoe Lodge, Mount Cook, about 1.45 a.m. yesterday, causing damage estimated at more than $30,000. No-one was hurt in the fire. There was no damage to any other property, and the fire was prevented from spreading to Governor’s Bush, the last remaining stand of beech forest in the Mount Cook national park. The manager of the lodge, Mr D. S. Callesen, said the fire apparently started in the lounge of the staff quarters, and spread quickly. Considerable damage was caused, but there was little damage to the rest of the staff quarters, with the exception of two bedrooms which were damaged by water.

One engine from the

Mount Cook Volunteer Fire Brigade attended the fire. No problems were encountered with the supply of water, which was obtained from the Mount Cook fire hydrants.

The lodge is one complex, and there are several Mount Cook motels between the lodge and the staff quarters. Mr Callesen said several members of the staff lost all their possessions. Lounge furnishings were destroyed, as were a television set and radiogram belonging to the Tourist Hotel Corporation social club. All that remains of the lounge area is the corrugated iron roof, which is held up by several supports, and which is regarded as a hazard. The fire was the worst since the second Hermitage was destroyed in 1957. Its cause is unknown.