A piece of Eldon history was lost Friday evening, Aug. 1, as fire destroyed the Eldon Lanes bowling alley - a longstanding fixture in the Eldon community.
The alarm came in to the Eldon Communications Center at 7:08 p.m., with heavy smoke reported by a citizen passing by the business.
Eldon Fire Department units were dispatched to the business at 401 W. 19th Street, responding with five pieces of apparatus and 15 personnel. The building was fully involved upon arrival.
An immediate call for a first alarm assignment was initiated, triggering a request for assistance from multiple fire departments.
The city’s two aerial fire apparatus were immediately deployed to knock down the heavy fire conditions, along with two engines and multiple personnel.
Due to the extensive flames, smoke, and risk of building collapse, the first arriving unit established a defensive attack using the aerials, while other crews secured the water supply.
Fire crews with hand lines entered the building to extinguish small fires and an adjacent business was protected from any fire advancement.
An excavator from the city’s public works department was also brought in to remove contents and large pieces of metal from the roof so fire crews could finish extinguishing the fire.
In all, seven departments and 50 personnel were on the scene: Eldon Fire Department, Moreau Fire Protection District, Rocky Mount Fire Protection District, Lake Ozark Fire Protection District, Tuscumbia Fire Protection District, California Fire Department and Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District.
One ambulance and crew from Miller County Ambulance District was also on the scene.
The Eldon Police Department was also on the scene to assist with traffic and crowd control.
Cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office.
