Wednesday, February 14, 2007
News
Lebowsky Center destroyed in fire
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at the Lebowsky Center in downtown Owosso about 1 a.m. today.
By ART BUKOWSKI Argus-Press Staff Writer
Just last month, dozens of volunteers armed with paintbrushes and tools took to downtown Owosso's Lebowsky Center, ready to make the historic theater look its best.
Late Tuesday night, dozens of firefighters from across the county worked to contain a raging fire as it ripped through the building and destroyed years of improvements.
Firefighters responded to the blaze at about 10:30 p.m. after smoke was reported. The fire began near the back of the building and slowly advanced toward the front as firefighters continuously doused the structure.
Firefighters remained on the scene well into the night and early morning hours. The theater is now mostly gutted and has badly sagging walls, and many surrounding buildings have extensive water damage.
Owosso Public Safety Director Michael Compeau said the cause of the blaze remained undetermined as of this morning. Owosso Community Players, which owns the building, had just finished a rehearsal of its upcoming production of “Beauty and the Beast” shortly before the fire began.
No one was in the building when the fire broke out.
Workers at Sunnyside Florist, located just south of the theater, were busy preparing for Valentine's Day when they smelled smoke and firefighters arrived, according to manager Patty Wing.
“I was prepared to be here all night, but they immediately told us to drop everything and leave,” said Wing, whose staff resumed work in the partially flooded store this morning to keep up with orders. “We have a ton of deliveries that I'm not going to be able to handle.”
Built in 1926 as the Capitol Theatre, the Lebowsky Center was acquired by OCP in the early 1990s. The group has poured thousands of dollars and countless hours into improving the theatre, including the recent installation of a $120,000 rigging system.
“I don't know if I could be more devastated if it was my own house that burned down,” said OCP President John Morovitz. “As a group we've spent so much effort and time and money ... it's become one of the major parts of my life.”
“It's obviously devastating,” said OCP Executive Director Bryan Dryer. “To have a group of people work very hard to get it into (such good shape) for the community, and then this takes it all away.”
Dryer said dozens of sets and props were destroyed in the fire. Some materials stored near the marquee may be salvaged, he said.
OCP was set to hold an emergency board meeting late this morning to discuss insurance and other issues. Board members hope they can still hold their upcoming production at a different location, possibly a local school, Dryer said.
Compeau said the city building inspector and engineer will check the structure today. He said damage to the structure is so severe that it will likely have to be demolished.
“We're just going to have to assess how dangerous the building is,” he said.
A fire inspector is scheduled to check the building today to try and pin down the fire's cause, Compeau said.
Late Tuesday night, dozens of firefighters from across the county worked to contain a raging fire as it ripped through the building and destroyed years of improvements.
Firefighters responded to the blaze at about 10:30 p.m. after smoke was reported. The fire began near the back of the building and slowly advanced toward the front as firefighters continuously doused the structure.
Firefighters remained on the scene well into the night and early morning hours. The theater is now mostly gutted and has badly sagging walls, and many surrounding buildings have extensive water damage.
Owosso Public Safety Director Michael Compeau said the cause of the blaze remained undetermined as of this morning. Owosso Community Players, which owns the building, had just finished a rehearsal of its upcoming production of “Beauty and the Beast” shortly before the fire began.
No one was in the building when the fire broke out.
Workers at Sunnyside Florist, located just south of the theater, were busy preparing for Valentine's Day when they smelled smoke and firefighters arrived, according to manager Patty Wing.
“I was prepared to be here all night, but they immediately told us to drop everything and leave,” said Wing, whose staff resumed work in the partially flooded store this morning to keep up with orders. “We have a ton of deliveries that I'm not going to be able to handle.”
Built in 1926 as the Capitol Theatre, the Lebowsky Center was acquired by OCP in the early 1990s. The group has poured thousands of dollars and countless hours into improving the theatre, including the recent installation of a $120,000 rigging system.
“I don't know if I could be more devastated if it was my own house that burned down,” said OCP President John Morovitz. “As a group we've spent so much effort and time and money ... it's become one of the major parts of my life.”
“It's obviously devastating,” said OCP Executive Director Bryan Dryer. “To have a group of people work very hard to get it into (such good shape) for the community, and then this takes it all away.”
Dryer said dozens of sets and props were destroyed in the fire. Some materials stored near the marquee may be salvaged, he said.
OCP was set to hold an emergency board meeting late this morning to discuss insurance and other issues. Board members hope they can still hold their upcoming production at a different location, possibly a local school, Dryer said.
Compeau said the city building inspector and engineer will check the structure today. He said damage to the structure is so severe that it will likely have to be demolished.
“We're just going to have to assess how dangerous the building is,” he said.
A fire inspector is scheduled to check the building today to try and pin down the fire's cause, Compeau said.