Fire Destroys Lincoln Masonic Temple in Aurora

Fire Destroys Lincoln Masonic Temple in Aurora

/ October 8, 2019 / Comments Off on Fire Destroys Lincoln Masonic Temple in Aurora / Communities, Education, Government, Police & Fire, Public Safety


One of Aurora’s historic landmarks was devastated by fire Monday night, according to city of Aurora officials and area media reports.

The fire, reported at 9:57 p.m. Monday (Oct. 7, 2019), destroyed the Lincoln Masonic Temple, an abandoned, five-story Neoclassical building located at 104 S. Lincoln Ave.

(CREDIT: Google Maps)

Officials were scheduled to hold a news conference at 4 p.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 8) to explain details of the fire. This article will be updated when additional information is available from official sources.

Area media reported that firefighters fought the blaze well into this morning.

Aurora Battalion Chief Jim Rhodes said Monday night that investigators did not yet know the cause of the blaze that was so intense that responding firefighters could not enter the 95-year-old structure that was on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fears the building could collapse after roughly 13 years sitting vacant kept 36 responding firefighters from entering to fight the blaze from within, Rhodes said. By Tuesday morning, there were no injuries reported and nearby homes were not damaged, but the historic structure was a total loss.

Investigators do not yet know the cause of the fire at the former masonic temple at 104 S. Lincoln Ave., a site located atop a hill in a neighborhood on the city’s near east side, not far from downtown.

No injuries were reported and no nearby homes were damaged, Rhodes said.

The city has talked about renovating the building for several years and officials are now worried that walls might collapse.

Officials said they will demolish the building. The demolition is expected to take about two weeks.

 

 

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