South wing of inn where fire started didn't have sprinklers

Much of the south wing was fully involved at the height of the fire, which wasn't fullly extinguished till early Sunday morning. (Kathi Sutherland screen shot)

NORTH CONWAY - The Red Jacket Mountain View Resort will be closed for an indefinite period after a mammoth blaze ripped through the south wing of the popular inn on Saturday.

Fire crews from as far away as Milton and Wakefield joined dozens of other departments to battle the blaze, which burned into the early morning hours on Sunday, North Conway Fire Chief Pat Preece said.

The fire started on the third floor in the south wing of the resort a little before 3 p.m. on Saturday. Preece said one of the reasons the fire lasted so long was there were no sprinklers in the south wing, which was built in the 1970s before sprinklers were required.

The New Hampshire Fire Marshal said after the fire started "some guests could be seen jumping from upper-level to lower-level balconies before safely escaping at the ground level."

All the guests got out safely.

Two firefighters and one other person were treated for minor injuries.

The resort is a popular family resort that also is home to Kahuna Laguna, an indoor water park, which will also be closed till at least June.

According to an update on their website, anyone with reservations in May will be contacted by the resort soon.