Firefighters from 12 companies in Pike County, Wayne County and Sullivan County, N.Y., were called to the lodge atop Masthope Mountain before 5 a.m. Sunday. The lodge -- a community center, bar and restaurant for Masthope Mountain Community -- burned to the ground.
"We pumped over a half million gallons of water and still lost it," said Bob Gallagher, a former chief and current member of the Lackawaxen Township Volunteer Fire Company.
Nobody was injured in the blaze. The community manager said losses could top $2 million.
Masthope Mountain Community is the home of Ski Big Bear -- a set of public slopes on Masthope Mountain.
"We had a good first response," Mr. Gallagher said. "It was through the roof when we got there. We attacked with everything we had and couldn't knock it down."
Firefighters even pumped water from a nearby pool to fight the fire, said Rocco Chierichella, Masthope's community manager.
Mr. Chierichella rushed back to Masthope from Manhattan after learning of the fire. Throughout the day he answered questions from residents who stopped by to see the damage.
"I thought it was a house or something," said Frank Magistro, who was awakened by firetrucks rushing past his house early in the morning.
The 30-year-old lodge had a bar and restaurant and served as a community center for Masthope Community.
Security cameras on the administration building, built two years ago, showed the lodge being closed about 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Mr. Chierichella said.
Operations for the community center will move into the ski building next door, Mr. Chierichella said. After investigators and insurance officials study the remains, the rubble will be cleared.
A temporary building will handle food sales, Mr. Chierichella said. The pool will be refilled. A "bigger and better" lodge will be built.
"We'll be up by next season," he said. "We have to."
