HOBACK, Wyo. — A fire at the Snake River Sporting Club’s (SRSC) Sylvan Lodge mobilized a major emergency response on Monday night, causing the hotel guests and staff to be evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and the Teton County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) were dispatched to the hotel at 4:36 p.m.; TCSO staff arrived first and began evacuating hotel guests and staff upon confirming the fire. Firefighters observed heavy smoke coming from the lodge’s roof and “visible flames near the chimney,” according to the Fire/EMS press release.
Suppression efforts began immediately and were complete before 6 p.m. Fire crews applied water to the roof and prevented further spread by utilizing the hotel’s standpipe system, which supplies pressurized water and hoses throughout the structure. Personnel responding to the incident included 27 firefighters, two chief officers and one medical director, plus another set of firefighters and chief officers on standby at other stations. The agency deployed three engines, an aerial ladder truck, an ambulance and a drone to the scene.
The fire also lead to the partial activation of the Teton County Emergency Operations Center, which assessed resources, coordinated information, and arranged meals and lodging access. The Good Samaritan Mission provided 70 burritos plus drinks and snacks to the firefighters on less than an hour’s notice, according to the press release. The Chamber of Commerce assessed potential options for relocating the displaced guests, who were ultimately accommodated elsewhere on the SRSC property.
“This incident highlights Teton County’s coordinated emergency response,” Fire/EMS Battalion Chief Brian Carr said in a statement. “From early confirmation and evacuation support by the Sheriff’s Office to strong dispatch coordination and early fire control, the response was collaborative and effective. The operational standpipe and fire department connection were integral to early suppression.”
The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still being assessed. The luxury hotel opened to guests last year with a soft launch in June before becoming fully operational in September. Fire/EMS noted that no public roads were closed during the emergency response, but that access to SRSC and lodging areas “were affected.”
“All other areas of Snake River Sporting Club remain open and fully operational,” SRSC said in a statement shared with Buckrail. “Our priority continues to be the safety and well-being of our guests and team members.”
Battalion Chief Carr noted that it isn’t yet clear when the findings of the investigation will be made public.
“Jackson Hole Fire/EMS reminds the public to maintain a practiced fire escape plan, know at least two exits, and identify a meeting place outside the area of the fire,” the Fire/EMS release concludes.
