GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — The Niagara Sailing Club is hoping to rebuild after its building on East River Road caught fire just after 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
The fire left much of the structure burned and unusable. Photos shared with 2 On Your Side by FBNY, a local firefighter group, showed crews trying to save the structure.
Mark Sadkowski, chief of the Grand Island Fire Department, says upon arrival, fire crews encountered heavy smoke and flames engulfing the building. The fire was brought under control around 4:31 p.m.
Sadkowski says the total damage is estimated at $200,000 to the building and $100,000 to the contents. A neighbor's shed also sustained $5,000 worth of damage.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Ray Dan-Jumbo, a past commodore of the Niagara Sailing Club, spoke with 2 On Your Side about the fire on Saturday night.
"This is not the type of club where you just pay your dues and some just does the work for you. This is like losing your house," Dan-Jumbo said. "We can rebuild, we can maybe find the money, but you can't replace all those sailing trophies inside. You'll just never get them back. It's just really sad."
Dan-Jumbo added that other clubs around Western New York have reached out to help, and they hope to come up with a plan to operate this summer on the same lot.
Earlier Saturday, the Niagara Sailing Club told 2 On Your Side in a statement that it was devastated by the loss.
"We do not know how the fire started and are awaiting the fire investigator report," the club said. "The Niagara Sailing Club structure and contents are a total loss. However, our small club's spirit remains intact. Our membership is heartbroken over this loss but committed to rebuilding."