During the early morning of December 18, there was a fire in Des Moines that burned down a beloved local bowling alley. Plaza Lanes Family Sports Complex was built in the November of 1957 by the current owner’s father. “It was like seeing your family heritage go up in flames, and all the memories with it,” said Randy Thompson, the owner, to the Des Moines Register. The fire burned the building thoroughly, leaving only the walls standing around the burned remains of the bowling alley. A restaurant attached to the bowling alley named Trophy’s Sports Bar and Grill was also damaged severely in the fire; however, the fire did not damage any other nearby buildings.
The Lanes Family Sports Complex was loved by a large section of the community, it boasted high ratings on Google Reviews and Facebook and the owners would personally comment on high reviews thanking people personally.
With an estimated 7.5 million dollars in damages, it will take some time to rebuild, even though the building was insured. The Thompson family is not giving up, however, despite this unfortunate fire that burned down their livelihoods they stay optimistic. “We are absolutely heartbroken, but we have many more years ahead of us! Plaza Lanes will rebuild and be better than ever.” Says the Thompson family in their official statement currently located on their website.
The timing of the fire is not surprising to any seasoned firefighter. While natural fires are more common in dry and hot areas like California or seasons like summer, winter poses its own dangers as well. “In the winter, structure fires increase, although total fires decrease.”, reports the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA reports that 27% of structural fires in winter are caused by heating issues.
While the exact origins of the fire are unknown as of now, local firefighters released a statement saying that after an investigation they have determined the fire was accidental. There were no casualties in the early morning fire; a breath of relief for the community and the Thompsons.
