Fire engulfs One&Only hotel

Big Sky Fire Department contains blaze to structure; two rooms declared ‘total loss,’ building suffers smoke and water damage

By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR

Editor’s note: This is a developing story. EBS will provide updates as more information becomes available.

UPDATED SEPT. 27 9:45 A.M.

On Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6:37 p.m., the Big Sky Fire Department was called to a fire at the One&Only hotel, which remains under construction at Moonlight Basin, adjacent to Big Sky Resort. 

The fire was located on the third floor of the hotel’s west guest lodge. A Friday morning press release from the Big Sky Fire Department described “heavy fire” upon first responders’ arrival. The hotel’s fire suppression system, or sprinklers, had not yet been activated.

“BSFD crews made an aggressive entry, quickly advancing to the third floor,” the BSFD release stated. “After verifying there were no occupants in the building, crews initiated a coordinated offensive attack on the fire… the rapid response and decisive actions of the crews played a critical role in saving the majority of the structure.”

It was extinguished in just over an hour’s time, by 7:51 p.m., but two hotel rooms were declared “a total loss.” The entire building suffered heavy smoke damage, and the floors beneath the fire area suffered water damage, the release added.

First responders contained the fire to the building—mitigating any threat of spreading to surrounding wilderness—and kept flames indoors, according to a phone call with representatives from Lone Mountain Land Company, developer behind the hotel construction. The fire was extinguished in the hour to follow.

Big Sky Fire Chief Dustin Tetrault praised his crew for a “super quick” response, the hotel’s site manager for quickly helping shut off utilities and supporting fire suppression efforts, and construction staff for cooperating. He said LMLC employees brought printed floor plans to help the fire department plan their attack.

“Obviously, the time from the alert to when we got water on the fire… I would guess it was less than 15 to 20 minutes, which was huge to get that [fire] knocked down,” Tetrault told EBS in a phone call Friday morning. “… It was just a really great coordinated effort amongst all parties involved.”  

Tetrault said buildings under construction are the most vulnerable to catching fire—fire departments work proactively with developers and construction crews to ensure safety plans are in place. Thursday’s response was a testament to those collaborative relationships, Tetrault said.

“The Big Sky Fire Department responded quickly, and we are grateful for their efforts in containing the fire to the building,” Kevin Germain, VP of Moonlight Basin, told EBS via written statement at 7:51 p.m. Thursday while BSFD worked to contain the fire. He added that nobody was injured in the fire.

The source of the fire is not yet known, pending official investigation from an interagency team including Big Sky Fire Department. Tetrault said more information will be available Friday or Saturday, allowing investigators to take another careful look in daylight.

BSFD credited more than 20 fire units and 40 personnel for responding to the incident.

“BSFD extends its sincere thanks to our mutual aid partners, including Yellowstone Mountain Club Fire, Central Valley Fire, Hyalite Fire, Bozeman Fire, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and Gallatin Gateway Fire, for their invaluable assistance,” the release stated.

As the fire departments finished up, a curious black bear wandered into the fire scene. Tetrault said law enforcement stepped up to haze the bear away.

“First time in my career I’ve had to call dispatch to haze a bear out of our fire scene,” Tetrault said. “That’s kind of a Big Sky-only thing.”