SANTA CLARA – A two-alarm fire ripped through the Elks Lodge in Santa Clara on Friday, injuring two people and causing significant damage to the building, fire officials said.
Just after 5 p.m., firefighters were called to the lodge at 1680 Martin Ave. for a report of a stove fire, said Battalion Chief Drew Miller of the Santa Clara Fire Department. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the building.
Two people were also found at the lodge. Miller said one was taken to a hospital to be treated for slight burns and smoke inhalation; the other was treated and released at the scene.
The fire was placed under control shortly after 9 p.m., Miller said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Miller said the two people were at the lodge doing some “prep cooking” for an upcoming event. They spent several moments trying to extinguish the flames before firefighters were summoned, Miller said.
“It did spread quickly because there was a delay while they tried to put it out for a period of time,” Miller said. “By the time we got there with a rapid response, it was already blowing out the front of the building.”
Miller said the building was heavily damaged. Firefighters, however, saved some items inside the lodge.
“There are huge areas of the roof that have been burned away,” he said.
The fire was contained to the lodge and no other injuries were reported, Miller said.
Check back for updates.
Source: www.mercurynews.com