Runaway hearth blaze damages Olema Home lodge close to Level Reyes

A fire that broke out in the fireplace in the lobby of the popular Olema House Hotel near Point Reyes late Friday damaged the lobby, attic and four guest rooms but did not cause any injuries, Marin County Fire Department reported.

Water damage was also reported.

When the fire department arrived shortly after 11 p.m., thick smoke came from the roof of the three-story hotel on Highway 1. About two hours later, 40 firefighters had the fire under control.

“It could have been a lot worse,” said Marin County Fire Department battalion chief Bret McTigue, who said additional firefighters happened to be on standby at Point Reyes Station due to the increased risk of forest fires. They were also supported by firefighters from Inverness, Bolinas and Stinson Beach.

McTigue said the fire in the fireplace got out of control when additional fuel was added to a compressed log of sawdust that was already burning. That started a fire in the chimney that spread to the attic, he said.

The firefighters were assisted by “built-in alarm and detection systems” installed by the hotel that automatically alerted the firefighters, McTigue said.

The upscale hotel and restaurant, where rooms are $ 275 a night and a hamburger is $ 18, will remain closed for the rest of the week, hotel officials said. The guests were moved to other hotels.

Steve Rubenstein is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF