Siberia Hut (Gillespie Pass circuit) destroyed by fire on 16 March.

DOC released the following statement on 16 March:

“The popular Siberia Hut on the Gillespie Pass Circuit Track in Mt
Aspiring National Park burnt to the ground today.

Trampers raised the alarm at approx 4.30pm by running to the Kerin Forks
Hut in the Wilkin Valley to contact the department’s Wanaka Area Office by radio.

It is believed that the fire started at approx 3.15pm. The cause at this
stage is unknown. Fire authorities will be investigating the incident in the
coming days.

There were no injuries to trampers in the hut. The 8 adults and 5
children in the huts are being evacuated by helicopter.

Siberia Hut was original built in the early 1980s.

Around 2,000 trampers per year use the hut – which has 20 bunks.
Paul Hellebrekers, Area Manager, Wanaka said, ‘At this stage our priority is
evacuating people from the valley and work through the process to
determine the cause of the fire.’ “