Hermon Mountain Ski Area in Hermon suffered a start-of-season setback when a fire destroyed a pump used for snowmaking.
In a Facebook post, the ski area said snowmaking had been going well and snow was piling up.
Then at about midnight Tuesday, the pump house caught fire. Local fire departments put it out quickly and drained hoses to prevent further damage, the ski area said, but the pump and motor inside the building were a complete loss.
“Today we start working with the insurance company and other businesses to get the ruined stuff out and find and install a new pump and motor,” the ski area said. “We are focused on getting going again and remaining positive.”
The ski area had not yet opened for the season.