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Dayton Daily News (Ohio)
Fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed the Englewood Indoor Soccer Complex on Tuesday morning. The fire burned for hours before it was discovered, officials said.
A fire at Englewood Indoor Soccer Complex on Tuesday morning caused an estimated $1 million in damages at the now-destroyed facility, according to fire officials.
Englewood Fire Chief Bud Bergman said it's unknown what caused the fire, but suspect lightning from the storm that passed through overnight may be to blame.
"We had a storm that went through here last night and with pretty heavy thunder and lightning. The building set kind of high, it's a tall building. There's a possibility that it might have got struck by lightning."
Bergman said the building at 501 E Wenger Rd. was likely burning for several hours before they got a call for the fire.
Crews from Englewood, Clayton, Union and Brookville all responded to the call around 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The fire is believed to have started around 3 a.m. Bergman said the complex suffered too much damage by the time crews arrived and that there was nothing that could be done to save it.
Daniel Durnell, general manager and vice president of nearby SportsPleX, issued a statement Tuesday morning via Facebook, offering to help Englewood Soccer's Jerry Butcher.
"Sportplex would like to extend our most sincere condolences to Jerry and the entire Englewood Indoor Soccer family on the devastating fire that tore through his building this morning," Durnell wrote.
"EIS has been a staple in many of our soccer lives and I also had many memories playing there growing up.
"I have personally met with Jerry to offer any assistance that we can provide while he determines his next steps during this tragic time."
Bergman said the fire is still under investigation, though surveillance from nearby Creative Countertops may have caught enough footage to help determine whether lightning was the cause.
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