An early morning fire gutted the interior of the Moose Lodge in Superior, causing an estimated $150,000 in damage.
The Superior Fire Department was called to the scene at 2:39 a.m. today. Battalion Chief Scott Gordon said the fire had been burning for a while prior to the call. Heavy smoke was coming out of the building when firefighters arrived at the site.
No injuries were reported.
It took about an hour for the three engine companies and battalion chief to put the fire out, and they remained on the scene until 5:42 a.m. battling hot spots.
The blaze began in the bar area, Gordon said, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation. While the structure of the brick building remains intact, the fire destroyed half the interior -- including the bar and office area. In addition, firefighters had to tear into walls and the dropped ceiling to put out the fire. That often happens when the fire has a good head start, Gordon said.
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Members of the lodge were on site this morning.
The building also is the polling site for the city's 5th District.
City Clerk Terry Kalan said there is a contingency plan to move a polling site in an emergency. She was looking into the procedure this morning, as the mid-term election takes place in 50 days.
