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Early discovery saves Elks from major fire lossBy J. Robert BaremoreFire which started in the boiler room of the Elks Lodge. 915 McHenry Ave.. Modesto, early today burned through the roof over a storage area but was contained because a janitor reported for work early.Events for members scheduled \ through Sunday have been cancelled,j said manager Pat McGoogan. A[ Stanislaus Employes Association5 dinncr-iiance scheduled for Saturday1 nielil will be held, however, even if| outside caterers are needed,I McGoogansaid.| A walk-in refrigerator filled with meal and oilier food, which is adjacent to the burned storage and boiler mum was damaged by the heat and smoke. McGoogan declined to make any loss estimates until after insurance investigators cheek the damage.The janitor. Howard Reynolds, turned in the alarm at 5:37 a.m. after he arrived to see flames shooting from the roof at the rear of the building.“If I hadn't come in. it would really have been going.” Reynolds said. He said his regular schedule is for him to report for work at 7 o'clock.Modesto Fire Department Battalion ClmT Ron Smith credited the early report of the fire as the reason it was contained within a matter of minutes. An extra alarm was sounded, sending five pieces of equipment and men to the scene.Heat from the boiler was believed to have ignited paper and plastics stored in a nearby storage area, said Fire Marshal Thurman Norton.A lime clock in the kitchen adjacenl in the store room had stopped at 4:53.McGoogan said there was only minor smoke damage in the kitchen area, and the ball room and banquet facilities were not damaged. Resumption of normal kitchen activities will depend on the findings of the county Health Department. McGoogan said.A members1 family night dinner for about 400 scheduled for tomorrow night and a Sunday buffet fur 150 were among the cancelled events.Lust night. T\ tl people a 11 ended an awards dinner at the dub sponsored by the Stanislaus County Surely Council.
Newspaper Details
Modesto Bee
Modesto, California, US
Thu, Jan 29, 1976
Page 32
Full Page
Clipped by
Th S.
USA 23 Apr 2023
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