Grant
Administrator
Flames destroy country club building
The Herald-Sun/Walt Unks
Chapel Hill Country Club employees remove files, pictures and furniture from the club’s business office on the building’s lower floor Monday.
BY BETH VELLIQUETTE : The Herald-Sun
bvelliquette@heraldsun.com
Jan 22, 2007 : 10:40 pm ET
CHAPEL HILL -- From the outside, the main building at the Chapel Hill Country Club didn't look all that bad Monday afternoon.
But the inside was so severely damaged by a fire Sunday evening, fire officials don't believe that the building can be saved. Damage to the structure was estimated at $2.5 million, officials said.
"They're going to have to end up tearing it down," said Chapel Hill Assistant Fire Marshal Doug Kelly on Monday afternoon. "It's pretty bad."
Investigators at the scene Monday morning determined that the fire likely started in the large hood over the stove, Kelly said. Just like a chimney fire in a house starts from a buildup of creosote, the fire in the hood started from a buildup of grease, he explained.
"The grease got hot enough to catch on fire," Kelly said. "It burned undetected until it was detected."
The fire could have been slowly burning even as people worked in the kitchen, Kelly said. "They said they quit cooking at 4 p.m. and shut it down at 5:30," Kelly said.
A tennis court maintenance worker saw the fire about 6:30 p.m. and called to report it.
Thirty-four firefighters from Chapel Hill, Parkwood, Durham and New Hope worked to extinguish the fire. "The fire was challenging to fight due to the construction of the mansard roof, which has two slopes on each of its four sides with the lower slope being much steeper," said Chapel Hill Chief Dan Jones in a news release. "The roof's tiered levels and layers presented difficulties in locating and battling the fire."
The roof was destroyed in the fire.
Throughout the day Monday, members of the club, located on Lancaster Drive on the east side of Chapel Hill, stopped by to check out the damage. "We had lunch out here yesterday," said Jackie Heywood, a member for 15 years. "Everything was wonderful."
The country club was more than a place to play golf, tennis or swim for many of its 700 members, said Jim Pease, president of the club. "The club is a real focal point for a lot of people," he said.
People dined in the restaurant, met their friends for a game of bridge, held their wedding receptions there. "It's a shame, a real shame," said Kaye Johnson, a member for 25 years. "I just love this club. It's a beautiful place and the people are wonderful."
Johnson recalled she came to the club every Tuesday and Thursday. "And Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday," she added.
Pease, who had just returned from a trip with his church to help Hurricane Katrina victims, heard about the fire shortly after firefighters arrived around 6:30 p.m. He hurried over.
"There were flames coming up through the roof, and the smoke was pretty thick," he said. "It was pretty upsetting."
The Herald-Sun/Walt Unks
Chapel Hill Country Club employees remove files, pictures and furniture from the club’s business office on the building’s lower floor Monday.
BY BETH VELLIQUETTE : The Herald-Sun
bvelliquette@heraldsun.com
Jan 22, 2007 : 10:40 pm ET
CHAPEL HILL -- From the outside, the main building at the Chapel Hill Country Club didn't look all that bad Monday afternoon.
But the inside was so severely damaged by a fire Sunday evening, fire officials don't believe that the building can be saved. Damage to the structure was estimated at $2.5 million, officials said.
"They're going to have to end up tearing it down," said Chapel Hill Assistant Fire Marshal Doug Kelly on Monday afternoon. "It's pretty bad."
Investigators at the scene Monday morning determined that the fire likely started in the large hood over the stove, Kelly said. Just like a chimney fire in a house starts from a buildup of creosote, the fire in the hood started from a buildup of grease, he explained.
"The grease got hot enough to catch on fire," Kelly said. "It burned undetected until it was detected."
The fire could have been slowly burning even as people worked in the kitchen, Kelly said. "They said they quit cooking at 4 p.m. and shut it down at 5:30," Kelly said.
A tennis court maintenance worker saw the fire about 6:30 p.m. and called to report it.
Thirty-four firefighters from Chapel Hill, Parkwood, Durham and New Hope worked to extinguish the fire. "The fire was challenging to fight due to the construction of the mansard roof, which has two slopes on each of its four sides with the lower slope being much steeper," said Chapel Hill Chief Dan Jones in a news release. "The roof's tiered levels and layers presented difficulties in locating and battling the fire."
The roof was destroyed in the fire.
Throughout the day Monday, members of the club, located on Lancaster Drive on the east side of Chapel Hill, stopped by to check out the damage. "We had lunch out here yesterday," said Jackie Heywood, a member for 15 years. "Everything was wonderful."
The country club was more than a place to play golf, tennis or swim for many of its 700 members, said Jim Pease, president of the club. "The club is a real focal point for a lot of people," he said.
People dined in the restaurant, met their friends for a game of bridge, held their wedding receptions there. "It's a shame, a real shame," said Kaye Johnson, a member for 25 years. "I just love this club. It's a beautiful place and the people are wonderful."
Johnson recalled she came to the club every Tuesday and Thursday. "And Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday," she added.
Pease, who had just returned from a trip with his church to help Hurricane Katrina victims, heard about the fire shortly after firefighters arrived around 6:30 p.m. He hurried over.
"There were flames coming up through the roof, and the smoke was pretty thick," he said. "It was pretty upsetting."
