Little Hunting Park and Pool Reopens After Fire

The Little Hunting Park Pool and Tennis Club reopened Friday, June 17, following an early morning Memorial Day fire.

A suspected electrical fire brought the facility's guard office, storage area, and men's restroom to "cinder and ashes," according to LHP spokesperson Sara Mulhern.

With the fire occurring just four days into the pool's summer season, the 460 member club's priority was to reopen as soon as possible.

"Our focus was to rebuild and open for the season," Mulhern said.

The Fairfax County health department and the club's insurance company worked with LHP quickly, and the pool reopened in less than three weeks. "Both the health department and insurance company wanted us to open," Mulhern said.

The fire-affected version of the facility was condemned and demolished. Utilities—including water, electric, gas and phone—all had to be reinstalled.

The women's restroom and snack bar only suffered smoke damage. A temporary trailer will act as the men's restroom through the end of the season.

Following the end of the season after Labor Day, the club will vote on whether to renovate the damaged bath house  or to build a new one. Either way, the facilities must be up to county code for next year's season. (The LHP's existing 55-year-old bath house wass "grandfathered" in and didn't need to observe code.)

Mulhern expressed gratitude to neighborhood pools that took in members for the first half of June while the pool facilities were rebuilt.

Hollin Meadows and Virginia Hills allowed the club's swim team to use swim lanes free of charge. West Potomac High School shared tennis courts, while Mansion House and Stratford Landing pools let members in under a special guest policy.