The blaze started in a lower kitchen and moved through an exhaust system to upper levels. Firefighters had to tear into walls on various levels to help extinguish the flames, which were also controlled by sprinklers. The cost of damage from smoke and water was yet to be determined. Fire officials said kitchen workers acted correctly in using a fire extinguisher and not water on the grease fire, but could have called for assistance sooner.
The West Des Moines, Iowa Fire Department responded to a 911 call about a fire at the Des Moines Golf & Country Club on the morning of March 28, The Des Moines Register reported.
The club had smoke and flames coming from the building when firefighters arrived at about 8:30 a.m. the Register reported.
West Des Moines Fire Marshal Mike Whitsell said the 911 caller said the fire was coming from the club’s lowest kitchen.
The club’s General Manager, Jim Cutter, told WHO-TV that a fryer in the clubhouse’s downstairs kitchen caught fire and the flames traveled up the hood and then up to the roof.
That caused damage to the ductwork and smoke and water damage to the kitchen, but there was no damage to the roof, WHO-TV reported.
The Register reported that firefighters had to tear into walls on the various levels of the club.
The sprinkler system installed in the building helped save it from any further damage, Whitsell told the Register.
The amount of damage caused had not yet been determined and no one was reported as being hurt during the fire, the Register reported.
Whitsell told the Register that employees initially tried to put the fire out on their own before calling 911.
“We are very fortunate that they did not get hurt in the process,” he said.
West Des Moines Fire Chief Don Cox credited the club`s staff with being smart enough to use a fire extinguisher instead of water on the grease fire, WHO-TV reported, but Cox said it was a mistake not calling the fire department immediately.
“Sometimes they`re just scared to do that; they`re probably embarrassed that maybe they somehow might have contributed to the fire,” Cox said.
“So they try to put it out before they think it will get too big—but they don`t realize how quickly it can travel, especially when you`re dealing with dry conditions outside or in this case food product that has grease in it that`s very flammable,” Cox continued.
Club officials at Des Moines G&CC said they were grateful that no one got hurt, WHO-TV reported, and that they hoped to reopen sometime next week.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.