Queenstown Hunt Club

PERRY TWP, Armstrong County — The state police fire marshal is investigating a weekend blaze that damaged an upscale hunting lodge near the Armstrong-Butler County line.

The fire apparently started shortly before 11 p.m. Friday in the basement at the story-and-a-half log cabin-style building at the Queenstown Hunt Club in Perry Township, authorities said.

The 1,300-acre hunting retreat is owned by Rosebud Mining in Kittanning.

The retreat, tucked in woods between East Brady and Petrolia, is a popular destination for hunting parties and has hosted pheasant hunts for Wounded Warriors veterans and special needs children.

No one was injured, but the fire caused about $50,000 damage to the 10-year-old lodge and as much as another $20,000 to its contents, fire officials said.

Two troopers were at the scene after 30 firefighters from five departments helped put out the fire, which was under control in 20 minutes.

“There was a lot more smoke damage than anything,” said Phil Beabout of the East Brady Volunteer Fire Department. “It took us longer to vent the smoke out than to put out the fire.”

Firefighters remained at the lodge past 2 a.m. Saturday putting out hot spots to prevent any rekindle of the fire.

The fire was discovered after a burglar alarm motion detector activated, which alerted the home security monitoring company. The company contacted the lodge’s caretaker, a retired trooper, who rushed to the lodge.

“He went to the one door and unlocked it,” Beabout said. “When he opened it, he got a face full of smoke. He closed the door and called us.”

The Petrolia, Bruin and Chicora volunteer fire departments in Butler County and the Sugarcreek Volunteer Fire Department in Armstrong County assisted in battling the blaze.

The rustic lodge, about 30-feet-by-60-feet with a loft above, is more than one-half mile off a dirt road about three miles east of the Butler County line.

Surrounded by spacious tree-lined fields, the building includes a large outdoor stone barbecue grill. A covered deck spans the length of lodge.

The interior features post and beam construction with wood floors and a huge stone fireplace.

“It’s a beautiful place,” said Chief Charles Barnes of the Petrolia fire department.

Barnes said an attack crew immediately got into the lodge and found the fire downstairs.

“The fire actually had pretty much snuffed itself out,” he said. “But there was still some in the basement.”

Four tankers were deployed in the fire fight.

Officers for the volunteer fire companies could not or would not say if they believed the blaze is considered suspicious.

A telephone call to the investigating fire marshal, who works out of the barracks in Butler Township, was not returned this morning.

Rosebud Mining officials could not immediately be reached for comment.