Correction: A previous version of this story erroneously stated the golf course is within the National Park. The Tribune-Herald regrets the error.
There were but a handful of golfers on the fairways and greens of the Volcano Golf and Country Club at midday Thursday — a mere fraction of the number that normally would be there.
That’s because a fire early Thursday morning in the main building at the entrance to the popular 18-hole course near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park prompted management to limit play to members walking the par 72, 6,547-yard course — where the scenery includes breathtaking vistas of Maunakea and Mauna Loa.
According to a Hawaii Fire Department statement, a neighbor heard the fire crackling and called 911.
The alarm was sounded at 4:50 a.m., with the first unit arriving six minutes later. There were four firefighters involved in the initial response, and there were no nearby fire hydrants, but the firefighters were able to keep the fire under control until companies more than 20 miles away, including Keaau, Pahoa and Pahala — the latter two providing water tankers — arrived.
The fire gutted the clubhouse, which means nonmembers couldn’t be charged green fees. Although no golf carts were damaged, the registers to rent them were knocked out of commission. The restaurant, changing rooms and a retail storage area were saved.
The building is still standing, but flames licking at the structure blackened much of the exterior. Fire inspectors were still on scene at midday.
Estimated damage to the 6,787-square-foot building is $315,000, while property value saved by firefighters’ response was estimated at $872,725.
No one was injured.
Attempts to reach management of the golf course and the on-duty fire battalion chief were unsuccessful by deadline Thursday.
Adam Hopper was among several construction workers at a nearby home in the adjacent subdivision.
“First thing I noticed when we arrived, there was firefighters everywhere, a little bit of smoke billowing out of the chimney, and you could smell it in the air,” Hopper said.
Hopper said golfers who had early tee times were undeterred by the blaze.
“Aw, it didn’t faze them at all,” he noted. “They didn’t care that there was a fire going on next to them. They were out there still swingin’ and puttin’ away.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
