There are places that are so special they become part of who we are — places that hold our memories, mark our milestones, and connect us to one another. Castle Hill is one of those places.
As employee-owners and stewards of this historic property, we feel a deep responsibility to care for it so it can continue to welcome neighbors, guests, and generations to come. Today, we write with full hearts to express our profound gratitude and admiration for the City of Newport Fire Department and the many first responders who came to our aid.
On a frigid night last Thursday, February 5, 2026, shortly after 9:30 p.m., a fire broke out at the Inn. In those early moments, the situation had the potential to become catastrophic — not only threatening the loss of a beloved historic landmark, but more importantly, the lives of the guests and employees inside.
The fire spread quickly through the wooden third floor attic spaces at the rear of the Mansion. In the face of rapidly changing conditions, the Newport Fire Department made swift, decisive, and courageous choices that ensured everyone was safely evacuated and ultimately saved the Inn from total destruction. We cannot overstate how fortunate we are to have a local fire department staffed by individuals who willingly place themselves in harm’s way — to protect lives, to protect history, and to protect a place that means so much to this community. What the Newport Fire Department accomplished at Castle Hill on February 5 was truly extraordinary and deserves to be recognized and celebrated.
They were joined by firefighters from Middletown, Jamestown, Portsmouth, the Navy Base, and neighboring communities, while the Newport Police Department worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and property throughout the critical hours of the fire. The scale and speed of the response were remarkable. Emergency vehicles lined the drive from the Mansion all the way down the hill to the cottages. Firefighters climbed steep, pitched roofs nearly fifty feet in the air to attack the flames, while others advanced through three flights of stairs inside the Mansion itself. Against tremendous odds — and aided by uncommonly calm winter winds — they brought the fire under control while minimizing damage to the historic structure. We are deeply aware of the personal risk each of these first responders took that night, and our gratitude knows no bounds.
In the days since, many firefighters have shared how personal this call was for them — how they, too, have memories tied to Castle Hill. We are blessed to live in a community served by a fire department filled with generations of local families who take immense pride in preserving the character of our community. Time and again, they have proven themselves to be the very best, saving iconic structures while always placing human life first.
We proudly extend our heartfelt thanks to the Newport Fire Department and to the responding teams from Middletown, Jamestown, Portsmouth, the Navy Base, and our surrounding communities.
They didn’t just save a building.
They saved our Inn — and a place that belongs to all of us.
Sincerely,
The employee-owners of Castle Hill Inn