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Family Moose a total loss

Building covered by insurance

By Erik Buchinger


The Clintonville Family Moose Lodge is considered a total loss after a kitchen fire that started around 5:33 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6.

Governor of Moose Lodge Art Langhoff said he was alerted of the fire while he was bartending.

“I was tending the bar when a waitress hollered there was a fire in the kitchen,” Langhoff said. “When I got in there, there was black smoke already. I had to make sure everybody got out of the bar alright and waited for the fire department.”

According to Langhoff, there were about 10 people in the lodge at the time when they evacuated.

“You never saw much fire because the roof was a brand new steal roof,” Langhoff said. “The fire department had to cut holes in the bar area because they couldn’t get over the ridge line good enough to put it out.”

The Clintonville Fire Department was assisted by fire departments from Marion, Manawa, Bear Creek, Pella, Navarino-Lessor, Nichols, New London and Embarrass along with Clintonville Police Department, Waupaca County Sheriff and Clintonville Area Ambulance Service.

The extreme weather conditions, along with extensive fire in the upper level of the building made the fire difficult to combat with crews remaining on scene until 1:39 a.m.

After investigation, it was determined that the fire was accidental in nature, and the origin of the fire was in the kitchen area. The building would be considered a total loss due to the significant structural damage.

Langhoff stayed at the scene until midnight and said most of the items in the building were destroyed including the kitchen, pool tables, TVs and some of the lodge’s records.

Langhoff said some of the lodge’s records were damaged from smoke but still readable. The fire department was also able to save the lodge’s charters.

“We’ll be able to just reframe them and put them back up,” Langhoff said. “The original people that started the Moose have their signatures on the charter.”

Langhoff said the plan is to raze the building and construct a new one. Most of the cost is going to be covered by insurance, he said.

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