Poley Mountain will reopen despite major fire, manager says

Poley Mountains staff will meet with managers on Wednesday morning to learn more about the future of the ski hill after a major fire destroyed the resorts main lodge.

The fire started at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and was extinguished by about 10 p.m., but not without causing an estimated $3 million in damage to the popular ski resort near Sussex.

"It's a big loss, it's a major loss. It's not only a major loss to the ski hill, it's a major loss to the community, said Bill Anderson, the manager of Poley Mountain.

But we're strong, we've got a strong staff, we've got a strong board of directors and we'll be up and going."

The devastating fire at the lodge will not stop the hill from operating, however.

Anderson said the resort just finished hiring its 180 full- and part-time staff.

"We just got done hiring everybody last week. It's ironic tonight was supposed to be the first night of orientation, he said.

Anderson said the chairliftand snow-making infrastructure were notdamaged in the fire.

He briefed staff at 9 a.m. and then met the ski resort's board of directors later in the day.

Sussex Mayor Marc Thorne said many people in his town found themselves in a state of "shock and dismay" when they heard about the fire.

"Everyone who hears about it fully understands the impact of what it means to this community and our neighbours in Waterford," he said.

Poley Mountain is a significant tourist attraction and many local businesses rely on it.

"It is very important in the winter season, Poley draws in thousands of people from all over New Brunswick. They shopin Sussex, they visit, they stay in our hotels, our restaurants," he said.

The Sussex mayor said the town will "remain very open-minded and supportive" of Poley Mountain as the resort's board of directors decides on how it will recover from the fire.

The devastating fire also prompted a response in the legislature on Wednesday.

• WATCH: Tourism Minister Bill Fraser react toPoleyMountain fire

Tourism Minister Bill Fraser said he was glad to hear that no one was injured in the fire.

But he said he understandshowdifficult the fire will be for the community and those who were looking forward to hitting the slopes over the holidays.

Fraser said the provincial government would look at assisting the business in the aftermath of the fire.

"I reached out to Bill Anderson this morning and members of my team will be working with him and his team to support their efforts to ensure thatPoleyMountain will continue to be a destination of choice for NewBrunswickers," Fraser said.

"I would encourage NewBrunswickersto continue to make plans to hit the slopes atPoleyMountain and other skill hills across the province."

The 'lodge is completely gone'

Five area departments spent hours fighting the blaze on Tuesday night while relaying tanker trucks back to Sussex Corner for water.

"The Poley Mountain resort lodge is completely gone, said Sussex Fire Chief Harold Lowe.

Lowe said the call about the fire came in from the resorts alarm company. But he said his crews knew they were facing a major fire, long before they had completed the 10-kilometre trip to the lodge.

"You could see the orange glow as they were responding. It was coming out the ceiling by the time we got here out the roof, he said.

Lowe said the fire is under investigation. The Office of the Fire Marshal will be at the resort on Wednesday morning to investigate.