A popular recreation site for outdoor enthusiasts went up in flames early last Thursday. The warming hut near the top of Gem Peak outside of Trout Creek burned to the ground and the U.S. Forest Service is investigating the cause of the incident.

District Ranger Michael Feiger of the Cabinet Ranger District said guests staying at the Gem Peak Lookout called in the fire about 3 a.m. last Thursday morning. Feiger noted that aligns with data received from the Kootenai National Forest's fire monitoring systems. The satellite detection system noted fire activity sometime between 1 and 3 a.m. Thursday. Three engine modules were dispatched Thursday morning to the fire. When they arrived, the fire had spread into forested vegetation areas around the warming hut building and the Forest Service used water and other resources to further cool down the area, Feiger noted.

"By the time they arrived, most of the shelter had already been consumed by the fire," Feiger stated. "Their goal was to prevent the fire from spreading any further."

The Forest Service will now work with the state fire marshal's office to determine the cause of the blaze. "The investigation is still ongoing," Feiger stated. "There were no indications of natural causes for the fire," he said, such as a lightning strike. The state fire marshal will determine the point of origin and will do further site investigation, seeking further clues or information about the fire.

The structure was built in 2006 by the Cabinet Ridge Riders, a community organization based out of Trout Creek. The structure was 24 feet by 24 feet and built with volunteer labor and materials donated by Ridge Rider members, local businesses and individuals. The club spent $3,288 to finish the hut. Since 2006, the club has maintained the warming hut and continued to make improvements.

Feiger said the situation with the warming hut is unique because it was built by the Cabinet Ridge Riders under a special use permit. He said if it was a normal lookout or other building belonging to the Forest Service, they would be the primary investigator. "The coordination is tighter with the local sheriff's office and other law enforcement," Feiger said.

"The club is at a loss for words, to say the least," said Ridge Riders Secretary Alexis Dean. "A lot of blood, sweat, tears, money and volunteer hours went into the warming hut. Lots of memories were made there and to see it all in a pile of ashes makes us want to cry." Dean said member Maureen Morkert put it best. "It's not over, we won't be defeated. We will raise it again," Morkert told her.

This year alone, more than 2,200 visitors signed the guest book at the warming hut, which also aided in some rescues this year, Dean said. Some individuals kept warm there earlier this year while they waited for help.

The Cabinet Ridge Riders in 2007 were awarded Club of the Year by the Montana Snowmobile Association. That group then entered them into the national competition and the International Snowmobile Congress. The state organization stated the Ridge Riders were honored because of their charitable donations, participation in the revision of forest planning for the Cabinet Ranger District and the building of the warming hut.

The Cabinet Ridge Riders have already said they plan to rebuild the warming hut and are already working with the Forest Service. Checks can be mailed to: Cabinet Ridge Riders, P.O. Box 1577, Trout Creek, MT 59874, with "warming hut rebuild" in the memo. Feiger said the special use permit is existing and active for the group, but the Forest Service has to wait for the investigation to conclude before they can release the site for any new building activity. He does not foresee any issues with the group being able to rebuild the structure. "It's been a positive relationship with the Cabinet Ridge Riders," Feiger stated. "They are a quality asset to the community and the warming hut serves a whole host of purposes."

Feiger said anyone with information about the fire at the warming hut is encouraged to call the Sanders County Sheriff's Office at (406) 827-3854, or the Cabinet Ranger District at (406) 827-3533.