Wallace District Fire Department, Virden station was called to a fire at Wellview Golf Course off Hwy. 83 at 3:27 p.m. May 9.
The fire started at an electrical outlet, with a deep-freezer plugged into it, on the outside of the clubhouse.
WDFD, Elkhorn station was called, and with their tanker truck they aided Virden fire fighters to battle the flames. Overall, there were all four fire trucks, Elkhorn’s tanker truck, and approximately 15 fire fighters at the scene.
Fire Chief Brad Yochim said it took a couple hours to get the fire under control, and was between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. before the fire was completely extinguished.
Yochim added that there were a few contents saved from within the building, but the clubhouse itself is a complete loss.
Sandra Wright was one of several people having coffee in the clubhouse following a game of golf. She placed the 911 on the fire that very quickly engulfed the building in smoke.
“We just got up and it engulfed in smoke just as fast as could be.”
The restaurant cook, Dennis Tough, had stepped to the back to get some buns. Wright said she was alerted when she heard him say there was a fire. “I heard things,” said Wright of the sounds of the fire. “So we all jumped up, he was hollering fire – call 911.”
“It was devastating,” stated Wright who had place the emergency call and watched helplessly as the clubhouse burned with a west wind fanning the blaze. No one was injured and already, plans are underway to keep the golf course open and functioning.
