Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115, No. 24	June 11, 2008

Five-alarm Hillcrest Country Club blaze suspected as electrical

Photo by Larry See Jr.
Remnants of carts are all that remain of a five-alarm fire which destroyed a storage shed June 6 at the Hillcrest Country Club. The fire was reported by an alert jail security guard.

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

A five-alarm early morning June 6 fire decimated a metal shed, used for storing members’ golf carts and gear at the Hillcrest Country Club.

In addition to personnel from the Meade County Fire Protection District, fire-fighters from Payneville, Battletown, Ekron and Flaherty assisted at the scene. Meade County EMS also provided care for the firefighters, who battled high humidity.

District Fire Chief Larry Naser said the cause is suspected to be electrical in nature, but added further tests are being conducted by a private firm.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, it looks like there was a problem with one of the chargers on one of the carts,” Naser said.

Firefighters received the call at about 4:48 a.m. and were on the scene shortly thereafter. The fire was under control at 5:27 a.m. and all fire departments cleared the scene at 7:25 a.m.

“The fire was called in by one of the jail security guards who was in the back and heard some popping and crackling going on,” Naser said. “We also received a 911 call on the fire as well.”

About 40 firefighters fought the blaze which completely destroyed the 72 golf carts stored in the structure. The carts were owned by individual golfers at the club and not by the club itself, Naser said. Some lockers also located in the structure were also destroyed, with the lockers containing clubs and clothing.

“A lot of that stuff was gone due to the heat,” Naser said.

The state fire marshal was called to the scene and examined the materials, resulting in the preliminary determination.

“We are confident the fire started at the north end of the building, closest to the swimming pool,” Naser said.

Country club owner Ray VanOver confirmed the fire was being investigated by the state fire marshal.

He also said the individual members who had equipment stored at the site were responsible for their own insurance for their possessions.

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