Katie Clark
BABBITT – YMCA Camp Northern Lights lost its kitchen and bunkhouse buildings to a fire on Sunday. The 2,000-square-foot Orion Building caught fire before dawn. A camp staff member called 911 around 7:10 a.m., according to the Babbitt Police Department at the scene.
Babbitt, Morse Falls Lake and Erie fire departments responded to the blaze. Upon arriving at the YMCA Camp, the Babbitt Fire Department found the building completely destroyed and called off the Erie Fire Department.
Babbitt Fire Chief Tony Chamberlin told Timberjay that the structure was found completely burned. “No one was at the camp when the fire broke out. It started much earlier and was mostly contained by the time we arrived,” Chamberlin said. “We surveyed the scene, put out any remaining fire, cooled the structure and returned home.”
Chamberlin said the fire department was unable to determine the cause because the building was “too deteriorated.” The Babbitt and Morse Falls Lake fire departments responded with two tankers and one fire engine, respectively. About 15 firefighters were on scene.
A member of the camp's maintenance staff told Timberjay that the Orion building houses the camp's kitchen and some of the sleeping quarters.
The YMCA released a statement Sunday afternoon. “A fire broke out overnight in Camp Northern Lights' Orion Building, which serves as housing for our Leadership Development Program participants and serves as our main kitchen. No one was in the building at the time of the fire and we are pleased that everyone is safe. We also appreciate the response and assistance of the local fire department,” said Michelle Tigan, vice president of adventure and camp operations.
“Our teams are exploring solutions to the challenges presented by this situation and are preparing to adapt so we can continue to serve our camp families. We are reaching out directly to all impacted participants and families to work out specific details,” Tigan said. “We thank the community for their continued support of Camp Northern Lights.”
