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Cause of blaze that left $1M in damage still unknown

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 1:53 PM Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Local and state investigators are seeking the cause of a fire that destroyed the clubhouse at Indian Ridge Golf Course early Monday, June 22.

Still, the blaze, which caused an estimated $1 million in damage, didn’t stop area golfers from stepping up to the tee.

“Our golf course is still open,” said Lynn Brading, director of sales.

Brading was fielding calls from her cell phone within hours of the fire that ripped through the large wood and stone structure that housed banquet rooms and the pro shop. She said golfers looking to play the course should bring cash, because employees can’t process credit cards right now.

“It’s gone,” Brading said of the clubhouse. “But no one was hurt, no one was here. That’s what matters.”

Brading said she was inundated with calls from panicked brides and event planners concerned about where their events would now be held. She estimated the clubhouse was scheduled to host two or three events a week through November.

Course officials are considering moving those events to a neighboring venue, she said.

The fire was reported about 12:40 a.m. at the facility on U.S. 27 (Millville-Oxford Road), according to Butler County Sheriff’s dispatchers. Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office were called to the scene about 4:35 a.m., said Shane Cartmill, public information officer with the fire marshal’s office.

Early reports estimated the loss at $1 million, but Cartmill said that was not determined by his office.

“It is a high dollar loss,” he said. “Our main focus is the origin and cause.”

Because the scene was initially deemed unsafe for investigators to enter, they interviewed first responders, employees and witnesses, Cartmill said.

“It is too soon to determine the cause or whether the fire is accidental or intentional,” he said.

Fire guts clubhouse, but the golf goes on

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