Amid strong winds that hit the region earlier this week, a fire broke out at Moose Lodge in Mentone early Wednesday morning, Jan. 8, completely destroying the structure.
Moose Lodge is a nonprofit service organization and community space for children and teens in need.
“This beloved space has been a cornerstone of our community and its members, bringing people together for countless memories, events, and moments of joy,” Mentone Beach Moose Lodge shared on its Facebook page. “Its loss is deeply felt by all who held it dear.”
San Bernardino County Fire responded to a report of fire at 2139 Mentone Blvd. at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday, and battled heavy winds that caused the fire to quickly spread through the structure, authorities said.
“Unfortunately the building is a total loss,” San Bernardino County Fire spokesperson Eric Sherwin said Wednesday. “They actually had to bring in an excavator to assist with overhauling some deep-seated areas of the fire.”
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The fire in Mentone came the day after wildfires ravaged neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. The Eaton, Hurst and Palisades fires, driven by one of the worst windstorms in the past decade, have destroyed more than 1,000 buildings combined. Officials said Wednesday that five people died in the Eaton fire.
In Mentone, firefighters brought the lodge fire under control 90 minutes after arriving and prevented spread to nearby residences, according to a county fire news release.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the county fire marshal, fire officials said Thursday morning. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters, officials said.
Eleven engines, three truck companies, one hand crew and three chief officers — in all, a total of 70 personnel — were assigned to the incident. The Redlands Fire Department and CalFire’s San Bernardino Unit assisted at the scene, according to the news release.
“At this time, we kindly ask that everyone refrains from visiting the property,” the lodge added on Facebook. “For safety reasons and to allow the ongoing investigations to proceed without disruption, the area is currently restricted. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this difficult time.”
