OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Officials have not determined a cause for a fire that destroyed a downtown night club Monday, but the night club manager said he is convinced it was arson.
Early Monday morning, a fire broke out at 10 East Grand Ave., home of The Galaxy Night Club. Firefighters arrived at the scene just before 8:30 a.m. At 4 p.m., Fire Investigation Sgt. Joel Davis with the Office of the State Fire Marshal said firefighters were still putting out hot spots. The building, assessed at around $263,000, was a total loss. The land is assessed at around $311,000.
“It’s a large dollar loss fire,”’ said Davis.
According to town records, the building is owned by Blue Jay, Inc., based in East Providence, R.I., and Galaxy manager Dani Sisson said the owner is Conrad Catalano. The building was insured, he said, but Sisson didn’t have insurance for the contents of the bar.
Old Orchard Beach Fire Chief John Glass said no one was in the building at the time of the fire. The first floor housed the night club, and the second floor housed storage, he said. Glass said a couple of firefighters had overheated during the response. They were evaluated, but not hospitalized, he said.
Late Monday morning, a crowd formed at the Surf 6 Restaurant and Grand Victorian parking lot across the street, some barefoot in bathing suits, watching firefighters douse the building. Part of East Grand Avenue was shut down as smoke and the smell it left behind penetrated the downtown and beyond. Power was turned off in the surrounding area, but was turned back on by early afternoon.
Thad Norkus was doing masonry work around 8 a.m. Monday on the deck of J.J.’s Eatery, which over looks the rail line. He said he heard some pops and ran out to the tracks and saw smoke. He ran inside the restaurant, and told kitchen manager Kelley Campbell to call 911. Campbell said she grabbed the phone, ran outside, and saw the building in flames.
“It went quickly,” she said.
Campbell said when she saw the fire she hoped no one was injured, and was glad to hear later that no one was in the building.
The fire is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Old Orchard Beach police and fire departments. Many interviews have been conducted, said Davis.
Investigators plan to enter the building today to obtain evidence, said Davis. He said officials will try to wrap things up as quickly as possible, knowing that this is a busy tourist area.
Sisson, who has managed The Galaxy for the past 17 years, said he found out about the fire from the owner of a nearby parking lot. At first, he said, he didn’t believe what he heard.
“I’m like, ”˜Shut up, stop playing,’” he said. He said he and his 5-year-old daughter, who was still in her pajamas, rushed to the building. “I’m like, ”˜Oh my God, they finally did it,’” he said. Sisson said he believes it was foul play, and will still believe it’s arson even if investigators say it was accidental.
“They couldn’t succeed the legal way,” he said. “They did it the dirty way.”
A few months ago, the town received an anonymous letter with a complaint regarding The Galaxy. Code Enforcement Officer Mike Nugent said an inspection was conducted and there were some minor electrical issues, which were corrected. Glass said there was a fire inspection a few months ago that raised concerns about the large amount of items in storage, and Sisson was taking steps to solve the issue.
The building did not have a sprinkler system, and Sisson said he was going to have one installed Sept. 6. To be in compliance with state law, The Galaxy was required to have one installed by September 2012.
Sisson and his staff congregated in a parking lot next to the charred building Monday afternoon, as officials prepared a press conference nearby.
“I keep turning to my right, and hoping I’m dreaming,” said Sisson.
Scott Day had worked as a bouncer at The Galaxy since Fourth of July, as a second job.
“It was more than a job,” he said. “It’s a family.”
There was a somber mood amongst Day and his coworkers. Day said it was a loss for the downtown.
Jodi Newcomb, a patron of the club, said The Galaxy was a landmark.
“Everyone knows it’s ”˜the spot,” she said. Newcomb said that many people were feeling the loss and she offered Sisson her condolences. “We’re all feeling the loss with you,”’ she said. “You’re not alone. We love you.”
She said she’s seen the club grow over the years as improvements were made, and it was sad to see it go at its peak.
“Seventeen years, that is my pride and joy,” he said. Sisson said he plans to reopen, either at the building if the owner decides to rebuild or somewhere else.
Glass said he has not seen a fire of this magnitude in the downtown in years. One of the challenges was the close proximity of the night club to other buildings, but the fire was contained to The Galaxy. Tsion Ohayon, owner of Big Z t-shirt shop next to The Galaxy, said Monday afternoon that there was no damage to his shop, and he praised the firefighters for their good work.
Firefighters from Saco, Scarborough and Biddeford helped on the scene and Goodwin’s Mills staffed the station.
Davis said if anyone saw anything suspicious they should call the state police at 657-3030 or the ATF at 1-888-ATFFIRE.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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