Dec. 31--SAN BERNARDINO -- Smoke from a suspicious fire darkened the skies over the north end of the city Tuesday, consuming an aging bowling alley.
At 11:38 a.m., dispatch received multiple calls about a fire in the boarded-up bowling alley at the corner of Western and Highland avenues.
Firefighters responded by 11:42 with 120 firefighters from San Bernardino city and county fire departments, Redlands, Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, CalFire and San Manuel to battle the stubborn blaze at the former San-Hi Lanes bowling alley.
Reports of a person inside the building had not been confirmed at 3:15 p.m., according to officials.
The five-alarm fire was knocked down at 1:30 p.m.
About 22 engines and three ladder towers arrived on scene at the burning 20,000-square-foot structure.
The ladder towers apply water at the rate of 1,000 gallons per minute.
"The firefighters couldn't find a way in because of all the heat and smoke," said Tom Rubio, San Bernardino City PIO.
Within minutes of opening the door, the roof crashed in and spread throughout the building, according to Rubio.
"The flames were 75 feet high," he added.
"We still don't have it fully contained, and the building is dangerously damaged. Firefighters are still holding the fire from spreading to adjacent property to the west," Rubio said.
Small booms could be heard inside as firefighters tried to contain the blaze.
At 3:15 p.m., an arson investigator was on scene because the cause of the fire was suspicious.
No cost of damages had been deteremined.
"We're just hoping no one is inside, but we're still not sure," Rubio said.
Copyright 2013 - San Bernardino County Sun, Calif.
