Firefighters battle the blaze that engulfs Ord Bowl late Saturday night. As of Monday, the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
Special to The Independent/Dave Glaubke
Investigators have still not determined the cause of a fire that destroyed the Ord Bowl in Ord.
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ORD < Lingering fire and smoke at the site where the Ord Bowl burned down Saturday night kept investigators from determining the fire's cause Monday.
Investigators from the state fire marshal's office were unable to enter the building Monday because of a collapsed tar roof that continued to burn, said Ord Fire Chief Randy Wilson.
Firefighters have decided to let that roof, part of a double roof that hung over portions of the building, burn out naturally, Wilson said.
"We've tried to put it out, but there's so much tar on that old thing that we'd have to drown the whole thing," he said.
He expected investigators to be in the building later this week.
The building is a total loss after the fire, which began shortly after the bowling alley closed Saturday night. Wilson said Sunday that what's believed to have been some type of explosion blew open a set of doors on the building before firefighters arrived.
Tammy Hruza, who owned the business with her husband, Dan, said they were meeting with insurance adjusters Monday. She added that the decision over whether to rebuild would depend on how the insurance situation came out.
Hruza said she'd been showered with support and offers of help from people in the community.
Bethanne Kunz, executive director of Valley County Economic Development, said several members of the board of her group and the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce had called, asking how they could help the Hruzas get back on their feet.
"They really think that it's an important piece of our community that we'd like to have back," Kunz said.
Pamela Hervert, executive director of the Nebraska State Bowling Proprietors Association and co-owner of the Sports Bowl in Ravenna, said the fire has resonated among area bowling alley owners, many of whom were wondering how they, too, could help.
The Hruzas bought Ord Bowl just a few years ago, but they had become involved with area bowling alley owners through traveling leagues, tournaments and high school competitions.
"They're just part of the family," Hervert said.
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