Burned Boys-Girls Club will reopen

Eric Leake

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004 | 9:01 a.m.

The North Las Vegas Boys & Girls Club was expected to reopen today after a Wednesday morning fire that gutted its kitchen.

North Las Vegas firefighters returning from another call noticed smoke and tracked it back to the club at 2530 E. Carey Ave. in the early morning hours, said North Las Vegas Fire Department Chief Jim Stubler.

Nobody was at the club at the time of the fire.

Stubler said the fire was likely started by a kitchen burner that may have been smoldering since the night before.

"If it hadn't been discovered it could've engulfed the whole building," he said.

Stubler estimated damage to the building in the tens of thousands of dollars and said the kitchen was destroyed.

The club was closed for the day to the more than 190 boys and girls who participate in its after school programs.

Boys & Girls Club spokeswoman Christine Skorupski said the club will reopen today with limited facilities.

"The kids are out of school, so we need somewhere for kids to go during the day," she said.

"We've never turned away kids and we don't want to start now, no matter what happens."

Skorupski said programs will be run out of tents in the club's playground and that the gym and bathroom facilities would be open. Kalb Construction offered to help with cleanup and The Beach is donating lunches for the kids.

The club's other rooms were damaged by smoke and will not open until Monday, Skorupski said, though it will take longer to repair the kitchen.