This story was updated with more details at 12:20 p.m. Dec. 14, 2023.
A fire destroyed the historic Cabell Lodge building Wednesday at the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Philomath Fire and Rescue and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sources reported.
Local firefighters were dispatched at 11:23 a.m. Dec. 13 to the refuge, located about 11 miles south of Philomath in an area off Bellfountain Road. The Monroe Rural Fire and Corvallis Fire also were initial responders to the alarm.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which operates the refuge, a visitor was taking pictures on a nearby trail and noticed smoke from the fire and called 911.
“Fog made it difficult to see the smoke and initially locate the fire,” Philomath Fire and Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Rich Saalsaa said. “The structure was a two-story building that was used in the past as an office building, but now being used for storage only and unoccupied.”
The structure burned to the ground but firefighters were able to contain the fire to the immediate area. No injuries were reported.
“We are thankful for the quick response and professionalism of the responding fire crews,” said Damien Miller, project leader, Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex. “They kept folks safe and prevented the fire from spreading any further.”
The cause of the fire has not been determined. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is conducting an investigation.
Built in 1912 as a hunting lodge and cabin, Cabell Lodge was a two-story, wood frame building overlooking Cabell Marsh. It is one of several properties on the northern half of the refuge left behind when the land was purchased from the Failing-Cabell Estate.
The large-scale ranching operation spanned the first decades of the 20th century and structural remains, field patterns and surviving buildings are from the period between 1906 and 1964, USFWS said. The lodge provided headquarters for the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex from 1979-2009.
The building is listed in the Oregon Inventory of Historic Properties and the Benton County Register of Historic Resources.
The only historical building open to the public on the refuge is the Fiechter House, which is open during special open houses run by refuge volunteers in the summer months.
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge is located in an area with no formal fire protection services. Philomath responded initially with an engine crew of three and Fire Chief Chancy Ferguson as a duty officer. Monroe’s initial response included an engine and Fire Chief Chris Barnes, who assumed command of the incident upon arrival. Corvallis Fire sent an engine crew, water tender, medic and a battalion chief.
Saalsaa said that since the building was located in an area with no established water supply, Philomath Fire and Rescue also sent two 3,000-gallon water tenders. Adair Rural Fire and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office also contributed during the operation.
In addition to the area fire crews that responded, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildland firefighters stationed in the Willamette Valley provided support and water from the refuge’s fire tender.
The refuge remains open to visitors during regular hours, although the area around the historic building will remain closed for some time.
