Firefighters did all they could to save chalet structure, report says

Firefighters who battled the blaze that burned Glacier National Park’s Sperry Chalet last summer did everything that could be done, an independent investigation has concluded.

The National Park Service issued the results Thursday. The review, conducted by six interagency fire experts in September 2017, outlined the origins and growth of the Sprague Fire over the course of three weeks, until it reached the Sperry Chalet complex on Aug. 31. It concluded that despite the best efforts of firefighters to protect all the structures at Sperry Chalet, an ember entered the structure near a second-story window and ignited the wooden portion of the structure.

Fire crews successfully protected other structures within the chalet complex. No lives were lost and no injuries occurred while defending the complex.

“Growing up near Glacier National Park, I have a special appreciation for the cultural significance of the Sperry Chalet,” Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said in a prepared statement. “I applaud the great work of the firefighters who responded so bravely to the flames, and I look forward to rebuilding the Sperry Chalet as part of President Trump’s focus on our American infrastructure. Still, the size and scope of the Sprague Fire reminds us that aggressive fuels management is necessary to keep Americans safe from wildfires, particularly in the West. We need to continue removing the dead and dying timber from our forests so that we can truly address this problem.”

The summer of 2017 was a challenging fire season nationwide. The location of Sperry Chalet, more than 6 miles from Going-to-the-Sun Road in the park’s backcountry, presented additional logistical obstacles to firefighting. Water availability to operate sprinklers and hose systems was a concern due to early snowpack melt and lack of spring and summer precipitation.

Retardant drops were considered for the Sperry Chalet complex, however, the terrain that makes for beautiful views from the chalet also made effective aerial drops extremely difficult and dangerous to pilots. At the time the dormitory caught fire, winds were blowing at 20 to 30 miles per hour and smoke blanketed the area.

The review provided observations and recommendations for the National Park Service and interagency fire community. Among these, the review team noted:

- Sprinklers were installed on the roof of the dormitory by a Glacier National Park maintenance employee trained in fall protection. The sprinklers were operating at the time the dormitory ignited.

- The report recommended that specific National Park Service wildland firefighters also be trained in fall protection to safely install sprinklers and shelter wrap. The focus for this training could be for parks with remote, high-risk historic structures.

During the incident, there was much discussion about shelter wrapping the Sperry dormitory. Shelter wrapping involves installing an aluminum barrier curtain around the entire structure. The review team consistently heard that firefighter safety was the first priority and the dormitory could not be completely and effectively wrapped due to the building construction. The lower part of the building was wrapped and was the highest level of work that could be accomplished safely and effectively.

Structure protection means that firefighters take appropriate measures, such as safely wrapping the areas where it will be effective, and realize that sometimes it means accepting unavoidable vulnerability, especially when highly flammable structures are situated in dangerous topographic settings.

“Wildland firefighters put forth their best effort in a difficult situation,” National Park Service Fire Director Dan Buckley said. “We will use what we learned from the loss of this iconic structure to improve where we can safely do so.

“The action items resulting from the investigation and review will inform us for managing risk in future similar situations,” he said.

Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said in a prepared statement that park officials appreciated their work and professionalism “while reviewing this difficult event.

“We also deeply appreciate the work of the firefighters who tirelessly fought the fire throughout the night on Aug. 31 at the Sperry Chalet Complex, saving the historic dining room and multiple other important buildings,” Mow said. “We now turn our attention to restoring the Sperry Chalet experience for the next 100 years.”

The review report and fire investigation can be found on the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned website.