PORT ANGELES, Wash.– The final investigation into the origin and cause of the fire that destroyed the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge on May 7, 2023, was able to determine an area of origin but was unable to determine the specific cause of the fire. Several potential ignition sources were identified but the specific source could not be determined.

Independent investigators determined the fire likely originated in the northeast portion of the building, which was unoccupied and undergoing a full interior renovation at the time. When the fire was discovered at 4:30 p.m. on May 7, the building was already described as a “total loss.” The long burn time destroyed evidence of fire patterns, triggered additional potential ignition sources, and compromised the investigators’ ability to analyze electrical components within the fire’s suspected area of origin.

The full report is available online at FOIA – Frequently Requested Documents (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).

The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge was a two-story 12,200 square foot structure constructed in 1952. The Lodge had been structurally renovated numerous times in its lifetime, and it housed the area’s hub for electrical, water, and communications infrastructure. As a result, the fire destroyed the facilities necessary to support full recreational access. Temporary restrooms allowed for limited public access throughout the summer of 2023.

The Hurricane Ridge area closed on October 16, 2023, for utilities construction and the demolition of the remaining lodge debris. The area reopened for winter recreation on the usual date, the Friday following Thanksgiving.

he area is currently open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to winter visitors through March 31, 2024.