Sperry Chalet In Montana's Glacier National Park Burns Down: What We Know

Built in 1913, the rustic hotel, Sperry Chalet, lost its main building to the Sprague Fire, which was sparked in a lightning storm on Aug. 10 in Glacier National Park. A national park official announced Thursday, that in the evening, the main building at the Sperry Chalet was burnt down.

A group of highly-skilled firefighters had been struggling to extinguish the fire near the historic building for the past week. In an announcement on its website, InciWeb said: "The high winds experienced this afternoon pushed the fire to the east. The firefighters, supported by 3 helicopters, made a valiant stand to save the structure but were unsuccessful in saving the main Sperry Chalet. The firefighters remain on site, are safe, and are currently actively engaged in protecting the remaining structures."

The Sperry Chalet was evacuated on Aug. 11 and was closed for the season on Aug. 15; the season is from July 9 to Sept. 10. On Aug. 15, it said: "We regret to inform you that the Sperry Chalet season is over. The National Park Service and teams of wildland fire fighters are putting in a great effort at fighting the Sprague fire which is threatening the Sperry Trail, but the fire is winning this battle. It is currently estimated at 100 acres and is expected to grow further. The buildings at Sperry Chalet are not currently in any danger, but we are cut off from reaching the chalet."

When the fire started initially, 39 of the 42 guests staying there escaped by hiking via a 13-mile-long trail, taking eight to 10 hours. The remaining three guests were flown out by helicopter, NBC Montana reported quoting Sperry Chalet spokeswoman, Lauren Alley.

Just a day before the burning down of the Chalet, the park's Lake McDonald Lodge, which is located within Glacier National Park, on the southeast shore of Lake McDonald, also closed down for the season. The move came amid hazardous levels of smoke, The Missoulian reported.

Meanwhile, the Glacier National Park continues to tweet updates and photographs of the area under fire.

The Sperry Chalet was built by James J. Hill and son Louis Hill, who was a railroad executive in the Great Northern Railway. They were also the prime developers of Glacier National Park. The rustic structures built in the park are made of native rock and their solidness can be gauged from the fact that they have survived for over a century.

The Chalet consisted of a two-storey hotel building and a kitchen/dining room building. There is a maintenance building and a new restroom located between the hotel and dining areas. The structure had been kept the way it was originally built, with the exception of the kitchen and restroom facility which were newly built. The dining room was a 400-foot stroll away from the hotel, according to its website.

Visitors and guests at the hotel were without lights, heat and water, giving them a camping experience. One had to use flashlights at night as no candles or fueled lights were allowed.