fire extinguisher were not successful as the fire spread into the main part of the building. The guests evacuated the lodge, while the on-site band continued to play Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to calm the evacuating guests, and then left shortly afterwards. The town fire department was delayed as the telephone lines from the lodge were burnt before a call for assistance could be made, and the fire was reported from a forest fire lookout who initially believed the blaze was a controlled brush burn. Staff members, guests, RCMP, Jasper volunteer fire fighters, Canadian army personnel and pipeline workers assembled to fight the fire and prevent the spread to other cabins in the park. After the fire 26 guests chose to leave Jasper Park Lodge, and the remaining guests stayed while operations at the hotel returned. At the time of the fire, Jasper Park Lodge had a rough plan for a new Central Lodge underway, and construction of the new design began within weeks of the fire. The new $3-million, 7,000-square-metre design included fire-proof steel, concrete, fieldstone and a cedar roof, with a four wing design that blended with the original bungalows and natural environment. The new concrete foundation was poured in late-September, and the steel-frame structure and roof were completed before winter weather came to Jasper. The new Central Lodge was completed on June 9, 1953. Later history Jasper Park Lodge was sold to Canadian Pacific Hotels in 1988 with a commitment to become a year-round resort destination. A five year restoration and development was completed in 1994 to the 442 guest rooms and public amenities. Canadian Pacific Hotels was reorganized in 2001 and formed into Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. In 2006, the Jasper Park Lodge was purchased by Oxford Properties, the real estate investment arm of Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), but it is operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. A $6.7 million Fairmont spa was added to the Lodge in fall 2010. In 2015-16, a $16 million renovation to all rooms (Fairmont, Deluxe, Junior Suites and Lakefront Suites) was completed to modernize the decor. ORSO Trattoria, the hotel's first Italian restaurant, was also added to the dining options, which includes The Nook Chophouse, Emerald Lounge & Patio, Thompson's Terrace and (of course) Oka Sushi. In 2015, the French hospitality company Accor paid $2.9 billion to acquire FRHI Hotels & Resorts including several historic Canadian hotels including Jasper Park