Fire damages restroom, gift shop at Spirit Mountain

An early Monday morning fire in a restroom located next to a gift store at Spirit Mountain Lodge damaged the restroom and gift store.

The fire apparently started on the floor of the restroom about 6 a.m. and caused mostly smoke damage to the gift store, said Tribal Public Affairs Director Siobhan Taylor. Merchandise in the gift store also may be damaged.

Spirit Mountain Casino Director of Security Joann Mercier said the wall of the bathroom was gutted to ensure the fire had been completely extinguished.

As a precaution, guests on the first two floors of Spirit Mountain Lodge were moved out of their rooms because of smoke and any guests who complained about the smoke had their rooms paid for, Taylor said.

Mercier said fans were put up in the lobby and gift shop to help eliminate the smoke from the building.

Personnel from West Valley Fire District station in Grand Ronde responded to the fire.

Mercier added that the State Fire Marshal was on scene, investigating the cause of the fire.

Mercier said she was unsure how many lodge guests were evacuated and did not have a monetary estimate for the damages.