HORSHAM Lanes and Games owner Wayne Watkins has vowed to bounce back after fire ripped through the popular sports stadium on Monday.
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The fire broke out in the centre’s kitchen and spread, engulfing the building in smoke and flames.
Country Fire Authority District 17 operations manager Dale Russell said more than 30 fire-fighters from Horsham, Dimboola, Warracknabeal, Vectis, Dooen and Noradjuha took about an hour to bring the blaze under control.
Mr Watkins said he intended to have the stadium back up and running as soon as possible.
“It’s taken a while to sink in but we’ll survive, we’ll get through it,” he said. Mr Watkins said it was hard to determine how long the centre would be closed for repairs.
“It could be three months, it could be six months,” he said.
“It’s going to be quite a job as there’s quite a bit of structural damage.”
The fire started in the kitchen’s deep fryer.
Mr Watkins said the tennis court roof, along with most of the kitchen and the mezzanine level, was hit hard.
He said fire crews managed to save the bowling alley.
“The bowling side isn’t too bad but there’s a lot of smoke damage and heat damage,” he said.
“The lanes themselves aren’t too bad but there is wiring damage.”
Day manager Rosemary Arnott said the Horsham Lanes and Games team had been touched by the outpouring of support from the community.
“On Monday when I was walking away from the stadium after the fire-fighters had finished, a lady pulled up in the car with a couple of little girls probably about five or six years old,” she said.
“I said ‘are you here for one of the birthday parties?’ The lady said ‘No, Alice wanted to come down and help you with the rebuild’.”
Alice handed Mrs Arnott $1.40 in silver change.
Mrs Arnott said regular Monday night bowlers went to the alley to see if they could help with the clean-up.
She said staff had been flooded with volunteers.
“We’re getting so many offers of help and it’s awesome to see how people group together at a time like this,” she said.
Mrs Arnott said the centre was a home away from home for many Horsham residents.
“It’s such a personal atmosphere. It’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle and a family,” she said.
“We know that half of Horsham is feeling the pain with us.”
Mrs Arnott said the centre would bounce back from the fire.
“Our spirits are not broken, we’re certainly going to be up and running as soon as we can,” she said.
She thanked the CFA and everyone who had offered their support.
Mr Russell said crews did a tremendous job to contain the fire and stop it from going right through the building.