News Release

National Park Service Releases Findings, Follow-up Actions for Sagamore Hill Visitor Center Fire

The interior of the  visitor center at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site was damaged in a Christmas Eve fire in 2018.

NPS

News Release Date: November 8, 2019

Contact: Tina Boehle, 208.387.5875

Today, the National Park Service (NPS) released the findings and follow-up corrective action plan for the December 2018 visitor center fire at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, NY.

The NPS investigation into the cause of the fire was inconclusive, however there did not appear to be any indications that it was intentionally caused. Accidental causes of the fire were considered, including furnace malfunction, original equipment installation issues, and storage practices. The building had a monitored fire detection and alarm system and portable fire extinguishers. Park leadership and staff ensured all applicable NPS structural fire policy was followed.

The fire, which caused no injuries, was detected by an automatic fire alarm system at 8:42 a.m. on Dec. 24, 2018. It was mostly contained to the furnace room and attic area. Due to the severity of the incident, William Kaage, Chief, NPS Division of Fire and Aviation, ordered a serious accident investigation. The Serious Accident Investigation Factual Report is available through the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site website. It includes the investigations, findings, and recommendations from the incident.

Coordination with local fire department responders was excellent, helping to minimize structure damage and loss. “The timely response by local cooperators, Oyster Bay Fire Department and other mutual aid fire departments, prevented the potential additional damage to adjacent historic structures from the fire. We appreciate the work of the fire departments and their response,” stated Acting Park Superintendent Paul Cecere.

The loss of the visitor center impacted the staff and operations at the park, as the building housed many aspects of park operations including staff, historic house tour ticket sales, and a bookstore. The NPS is planning to relocate the visitor center permanently to another adjacent park structure and restore a key piece of the site’s cultural landscape the burned structure currently stands on. “Although the circumstances have significantly affected visitor services operations, the loss of the park’s visitor center is an unforeseen opportunity for the park to explore cultural landscape preservation options and explore alternative operations for a more engaging visitor experience,” stated Cecere.

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site preserves the former home of President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt lived there from 1885 until his death in 1919. During Roosevelt's time in office, Sagamore Hill served as the "Summer White House."