Hillary club management debunks rumours following horrific blaze
Hillary Sports and Social Club hall was burned out completely along with an office, but other parts of the club only suffered smoke damage.
THE fire, which razed portions of Hillary Sports Club, leaving the almost 100-year old hall as a burnt out shell, has shocked residents who have long relied on the club as a meeting spot.
The club is also a venue for special occasions and a social club to meet and enjoy the company of friends, old and new.
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The main hall and adjacent office area was badly damaged after a fire broke out in the main hall, just after 5pm on Wednesday, 28 October.
Lorein Vosloo, chairperson of Hillary Sports and Social Club and Pat Phillips, a club member were both in the building on the corner of Sarnia and Stella Roads when the fire started.
Phillips recounted how quickly the fire engulfed the hall.
“Lorein came in shouting, ‘the hall’s on fire!’ We all ran to have a look and it was already so hot in there that we couldn’t get into the hall,” he said.
“We grabbed fire extinguishers but there was no way we could even get close to the fire itself,” said Phillips who added that he and the staff from the bar and kitchen had calmly left through the back door while others who had left the building from the front were starting to worry.
Rumours
When the first reports were shared about the incident on the evening of the fire, an initial report from the scene indicated a fear that people might have been trapped in the building, however fortunately no one was harmed and no lives were lost in the blaze.
When the fire was first reported on social media a rumour that the fire had started in the kitchen spread.
“I would like to clear the rumours that the fire started in the kitchen if I may,” said Vosloo.
“I was in my office at the time when the fire started. I heard the sound of fire and went to check, the flames were on the wall on the office side of the hall, I ran to the bar to call everyone in there. Unfortunately the fire spread so fast because of the draping on the walls,” she said.
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Vosloo said she and her committee have received many messages and phone calls from people in the community.
“We would like to thank everyone for their phone calls and messages of concern,” she said.
“Our insurer has concluded their forensic investigation and we are awaiting their report,” said Vosloo.
“The Fire Department Safety Officer came to do their inspection yesterday,” she said adding that other inspections had also taken place.
“The premises were inspected by a quantity surveyor and structural engineer on Tuesday, 3 November, and hopefully if all goes well our building will be repaired.”
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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