KALISPELL (AP) -- An early morning fire destroyed Skyline Bowl here Monday, city fire department officials said. No one was injured.
The fire, which started in the attic of the city's only bowling alley, was reported at 3 a.m. by a janitor cleaning carpets in the lounge, said Jim Stewart, assistant fire chief.
About 30 minutes after firefighters arrived, an explosion destroyed a concrete block wall. The roof collapsed about 20 minutes later.
Firefighters had natural gas and electricity shut off to the area around the bowling alley after the explosion, Stewart said.
Stewart had no damage estimate.
``It's our understanding that the property's insured,'' he said.
Stewart said it would be at least Tuesday until investigators could safely get into the debris to start an investigation.
The fire spewed a column of black smoke visible across much of Kalispell after sunrise, and an entire city block was cordoned off as firefighters concentrated on protecting nearby buildings.
Another assistant chief, Dee McCluskey, said he ordered firefighters to withdraw about 20 minutes after they arrived and moments later the building exploded.
Roofs with a curving ``bowstring truss'' construction are well known as ``firefighter killers'' because of their tendency to completely collapse when weakened by fire, McCluskey said. ``It did what we anticipated it would do,'' he said.
McCluskey said it was still unclear exactly what caused the explosion. It might have been a ruptured gas line or it could have been the result of the roof collapsing and compressing a powerful burst of hot air.
Veterinarian Kelly Rankin's Flathead Animal Clinic, located no more than 20 feet from the bowling alley, was threatened and she evacuated a dog and litter of kittens. Rankin later said firefighters saved the clinic by dousing it with water.
Owner Rick Perry said he was notified of the fire by a carpet cleaner who had been working in the building. Perry has owned the business since 1986.
A former professional bowler, Perry managed the business before buying it. ``I've been here since 1979.''
The bowling alley was the scene of a murder in 1979, when one of the former owners killed his wife with the help of an employee.
Karen Forsyth was shot to death in the business by her husband, Jerry Forsyth. He was tried three times and remains in prison, serving a 110-year sentence, and still maintaining his innocence. He said an intruder had shot his wife and robbed the business.
Leagues were just warming up for this season's play when the fire ended it all. Perry said he didn't know if he would rebuild.
He said the business had fire insurance and his concern centered on his employees.
``There are about 20 people without jobs,'' Perry said.
Information from: Daily Inter Lake
