Fire at Grand Hotel

[SnoBrdr]

Reports of a fire at the Grand.

Several communities responded.

Details still lacking.

[Killington Resort]

This morning, at around 3:55am, a chimney fire was reported at the Grand Hotel and staff immediately called 911. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Staff did a great job evacuating guests to nearby Snowshed Base Lodge while the fire department extinguished the fire. Currently, the Grand Hotel is fully operational with the exception of the lower lobby, owners lounge, and Penthouse 332. Guests have since returned to the hotel.

The fire is still under investigation, but based on current assessments it looks as though a guest overloaded the fireplace with logs. We’re glad no one was hurt and sincerely appreciate the guest's cooperation this morning. While we waited for confirmation that we could renter the lodge, guests were served breakfast over at Snowshed. Thank you to all staff around the mountain for jumping into action. And thank you to all local authorities that responded including Killington, Rutland City, Bridgewater and Rutland Town fire departments.



Thanks,
Mike

Michael Solimano
President & General Manager

[Bubba]

Thanks for the info and for squelching rumors before they begin. Glad everything is ok. Overloaded wood fireplaces are a serious potential problem in all rental properties.

[daytripper]

Thanks for the info and for squelching rumors before they begin. Glad everything is ok. Overloaded wood fireplaces are a serious potential problem in all rental properties.

You would think they would have the chimneys swept, open fireplaces do not create a lot of creosote. Curious to how often the chimneys are swept. One sweeping the fall should be enough in an open fireplaces that there isn't enough creosote in it to burn long enough for a problem. Woodstoves are much worse at creating creosote than an open fireplaces.

[SnoBrdr]

Thanks for the info and for squelching rumors before they begin. Glad everything is ok. Overloaded wood fireplaces are a serious potential problem in all rental properties.

You would think they would have the chimneys swept, open fireplaces do not create a lot of creosote. Curious to how often the chimneys are swept. One sweeping the fall should be enough in an open fireplaces that there isn't enough creosote in it to burn long enough for a problem. Woodstoves are much worse at creating creosote than an open fireplaces.

Are there wood fireplaces in each unit?

Maybe it's time to switch to gas fireplaces as our condo association did years ago.

Glad all got out safe.

[VTReporter]

Folks who normally don’t burn wood on a regular basis don’t know what is full verses over full. I am a product of a family business who dealt with messes like this. Stop blaming an innocent chimney.

[daytripper]

Folks who normally don’t burn wood on a regular basis don’t know what is full verses over full. I am a product of a family business who dealt with messes like this. Stop blaming an innocent chimney.

If a chimney is clean there is no fuel in it (creosote) to ignite so you do not have a chimney fire.

[rogman]

Chimney fires are the result of creosote buildup. This can occur for a number of reasons:
1. Unseasoned wood
2. Cold flue
3. Oversized flue and/or restricted air flow. Either of these cause the "smoke" to remain too long in the chimney and give the creosote a chance to condense on the walls.

In general, a hot fire is less likely to cause creosote buildup, but also more likely to start a chimney fire. The Grand probably uses metal flues which will contain the fire, but they can get very hot (>2000 degrees). They are also more susceptible to being cold at startup. If a chimney fire goes on long enough, they can still ignite the wood adjacent to it. Not sure what other repairs are required, but likely the flue is sufficiently damaged that it will need replacement.

The best way to put out a chimney fire is to deny it additional heat, i.e. put out the fire in the fireplace/firebox. A fire blanket is a good method that won't make too much of a mess. Spraying water up the chimney is a bad idea: it may cause a steam explosion. You also want to deny it air. There are "bombs" you put in the fireplace/firebox that do just that. Chemfex is an example of a product that does this.

You may not even know you have a chimney fire, but of it sounds like a freight train in there, you do! I believe the one at the Grand was called in by a Cat driver on the hill. You may have already had small chimney fires and not know it. A professional chimney sweep should be able to tell you.

Finally, I'm not an expert, and you should take all these suggestions with as many grains of salt as you like: do your homework.

[daytripper]

The wood you get in the box of any of these condos was split in September. Hardwood depending on species takes 1-3 year's to season. The wood included with your HOA fees has seasoned for a month when you get it. This wood smolders and creates creosote. If you burn fully seasoned wood creosote doesn't happen.....even with everything against it, for the chimney of an open fireplaces to have a fire it hadn't been swept in well over a year.

[rogman]

Yet to meet a firewood salesman that tells the truth about how long their wood’s been seasoned.

[da Pimp]

You can bet that the insurance company will be asking for the records of chimney cleaning for that unit and every unit that they insure. And those records need to show that someone "qualified" did the work or performed it under the supervision of someone qualified.

You can also bet that the Grand Summit bases their chimney cleaning activities on recorded unit usage and estimated number of fires created in a 12 month period. Because if you do, it might create the subjective result that a chimney cleaning is not warranted in some instances. The goal is to delay such expenses for as long as you can.

And don't think for a moment that they provide long cured wood. That is another expense that can be shortcut.

Sorry that the event happened, but for lack on any other information it sounds like going cheap got them in trouble. Many homeowners also go that route.

[madhatter]

Yet to meet a firewood salesman that tells the truth about how long their wood’s been seasoned.

pretty sure colton's can tell you exactly how long...

[Big Bob]

Use a moisture meter to see how green the wood is.

[daytripper]

Use a moisture meter to see how green the wood is.

Most people fail even when doing that since to get an accurate reading it has to be on a freshly split room temp piece of wood.

[madhatter]

Use a moisture meter to see how green the wood is.

Most people fail even when doing that since to get an accurate reading it has to be on a freshly split room temp piece of wood.

most people throw whatever wood they have available on the fire...period...