Overloaded kitchen electrical outlet cited in North Fork Resort fire

On Wednesday, Warren County Fire & Rescue released its report on the fire that destroyed the Activities Building at the North Fork Resort in the early morning hours of Tuesday, December 13.  It cites an overloaded kitchen electrical outlet as the likely cause of the blaze.

The building was unoccupied at the time the fire began, and there were no injuries to resort staff, members or firefighters.  The internal nature of the fire in an unoccupied structure was a factor in a delay from the actual start of the fire to its being reported at 6:26 AM.

Chief Richard Mabie (white fire helmet) was among those on scene as officials sought clues to the nature of the fire on Tuesday afternoon.

Crucially, while taking a defense stance due to the advanced state of the fire at the time first responders arrived, firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to an adjacent pool building and storage area where pool chemicals were kept.

Four Warren County departments – Companies 1, 2, 8 and 10, responded to the blaze; they were assisted by two units from Strasburg.

The building was deemed a Total Loss at a value of $300,000.

Warren County Fire Chief Richard Mabie’s Press Release on the fire, in its entirety reads:

Warren County Fire and Rescue units responded to an early morning structure fire at North Fork Resort off of Strasburg Road in western Warren County.  Units responded to 615 Homestead Drive and arrived to find the 200-foot by 75-foot Activity Center showing fire coming through the roof with fire throughout.

The first officer deemed the fire a defensive attack due to the unsafe condition of the building.  Firefighters attacked the fire from safe locations including an aerial ladder nozzle, turret nozzle from the engine and various hand lines.

While the building became a total loss, firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to their pool house and storage building.  This building was also their storage facility for pool chemicals. Water for the fire was taken from a pond on the property and shuttled from a fire hydrant in the Town of Front Royal.

Photos by Roger Bianchini.

The fire was investigated by the Warren County Fire Marshal’s office, assisted by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.  Late today, their finding as to the cause of the fire was an overloaded electrical outlet in the kitchen, in conjunction with a space heater. There were no occupants in the building at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.

The facility is owned by the North Fork Resort Association.  Fire Chief Richard Mabie estimated that damage to the building at $300,000. Every station in Warren County was dispatched and responded to the scene.  Additional units from Strasburg Fire and Rescue Squad responded as well.

First Alarm – Engine Cos. 8-10-1-2; Trucks 10-1; Chief 100, FM1, Tankers 5 and 4 @ 6:26 AM;

On Scene – Engine 1 @ 6:35 AM; Fire Through Roof-Defensive Operation;

Special Call – Strasburg Rescue 25 and Strasburg Engine 51 @ 6:40 AM

Second Alarm – Tanker 3, Tanker 9 @ 6:56 AM

Engine 6 moved to Station 1 for a fill @ 6:44 AM

Under Control – 8:35 AM

Units clear – 3:07 PM

Value – $375,000

Loss – $300,000 (Total Loss)

CLICK HERE for more images.