NORTH WALES, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Firefighters worked to extinguish a blaze that tore through the clubhouse of a 55-and-older retirement community in North Wales, Montgomery County Wednesday morning.
The fire started around 5:30 a.m. in the Village of Neshaminy Falls clubhouse, near Stump and Horsham roads. There were no reported injuries.
The building is a shared common area with a fitness center and other amenities, where residents can socialize, exercise and even keep up with their health.
"We all got our vaccinations here," said Stu Schaeffer, a resident. "It's a great community; quiet and a lot of activities. The parking lot is full almost every night with activities for the residents here."
There are about 800 houses in the community. Schaeffer lives two houses away from the clubhouse, but the fire did not spread to his home or any other house in the development.
Patti Kline stood outside with her neighbors and watched the fire tear through their clubhouse.
"It was shocking," she said. "I just couldn't believe the amount of fire. The whole building was engulfed from one end to the other."
Fire officials believe the clubhouse was empty when the fire broke out, but Montgomery Township Fire Chief Bill Wiegman said crews had to act fast when it began to crumble.
"[Firefighters] were inside fighting the fire when the roof started to collapse, so we pulled them out," he said.
Some exterior walls had to be demolished so firefighters could reach a few remaining hotspots.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
