Katoomba RSL CEO Nick Darias is relieved no-one died in the massive fire which hit the club at lunchtime last Friday [February 24].
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“It could have been a lot worse. It could have been Chinese New Year with all the crowds, or Friday night with a band when we have 450 members, or on school holidays when we have school disco … but there’s never a good time for it.”
Carefully executed evacuation plans meant the 14 staff on site were able to round up the 30 patrons and get everyone to safety in the three minutes before the entire building was alight.
“We had fire evacuation training with all our staff and it kicked in. We got everybody out in three minutes - within three minutes time the place was up,” Mr Darias said.
“They checked bathrooms, restaurants, gaming, everyone had to be out of here … the five girls working in the office got a call there was a problem. By the time they got out there they could see smoke and flames so they rang Triple O, announcements were made, everyone went into evacuation mode.”
With wind and rain in the ensuing days, the club remains not structurally sound and police forensics have not been inside to verify the exact cause of the fire.
“It happened too quick. We’re going to leave all that to the police,” Mr Darias said.
Police issued a statement to the Gazette on Monday about the incident.
“About 1.30pm on Friday February 24 at the Katoomba RSL there were approximately 40 people inside the RSL Club when a patron was in the TAB room and saw a puff of black smoke emanating from a light fitting within the gaming room.
“He immediately notified staff and it was confirmed there was a fire that had started within the light fixture. All patrons and staff were escorted safely into the car park, by the time police and fire crews arrived the building was well alight. At this stage it appears the fire is not suspicious and the result of an electrical fault.”
The club has long acted as a designated bushfire safer place where they have aided the community and emergency services during disasters but now the community is giving them that help back.
On Tuesday night Blue Mountains council was expected to issue a statement in support of the club. Local MPs Trish Doyle and Susan Templeman, several councillors and Mayor Mark Greenhill have already been on site. Other RSL clubs, including Hurstville, Fairfield and Cumberland are willing to assist with restoration of the medals. And other clubs signing up to help include Wentworth Falls Country Club, Blackheath Golf Club, Wallarawang Bowling Club, Lithgow Workies, Dubbo RSL, Penrith RSL and Oberon RSL.
The club has cancelled all entertainment on the site until further notice but the Anzac Day service and the Blue Mountains Music Festival will continue in a reduced and revised format.