SANTA CLARA – A two-alarm fireplace ripped by means of the Elks Lodge in Santa Clara on Friday, injuring two folks and inflicting vital harm to the constructing, fireplace officers stated.
Simply after 5 p.m., firefighters had been referred to as to the lodge at 1680 Martin Ave. for a report of a range fireplace, stated Battalion Chief Drew Miller of the Santa Clara Fireplace Division. Firefighters arrived to seek out heavy smoke and flames coming from the constructing.
Two folks had been additionally discovered on the lodge. Miller stated one was taken to a hospital and handled for slight burns and smoke inhalation earlier than being launched; the opposite was handled and launched on the scene.
The hearth was positioned below management shortly after 9 p.m., Miller stated.
The reason for the hearth is below investigation, however Miller stated the 2 folks had been on the lodge performing some “prep cooking” for an upcoming occasion. They spent a number of moments making an attempt to extinguish the flames earlier than firefighters had been summoned, Miller stated.
“It did unfold rapidly as a result of there was a delay whereas they tried to place it out for a time period,” Miller stated. “By the point we obtained there with a speedy response, it was already blowing out the entrance of the constructing.”
Miller stated the constructing was closely broken. Firefighters, nonetheless, saved some objects contained in the lodge.
“There are enormous areas of the roof which have been burned away,” he stated.
The hearth was contained to the lodge and no different accidents had been reported, Miller stated.
Workers author Shomik Mukherjee contributed reporting to this story.