Fire Hits Carolina Trace Clubhouse

Sanford, N.C. — Fire struck the Carolina Chase country club in Sanford Thursday night, consuming about 65 percent of the building, officials said.

The blaze had fully engulfed the clubhouse when crews from 15 fire departments arrived around 9:45 p.m. at 2100 Country Club Dr., off N.C. Highway 87, officials said.

Firefighters said they had stopped the blaze from spreading by about 11 p.m. Ambulances were on standby at the scene, but no one was taken to a hospital.

“While we are saddened to see the loss of such a large part of the Carolina Trace community, we are happy to have helped save a good amount of the personal property in the building and no one was hurt during the operation,” said Todd McNeill, chief of Carolina Trace Volunteer Fire Department and incident commander of the operation.

The country club was under a minor renovation at the time of the fire. However, investigators were unable to determine if that was a contributing factor to the fire. One factor, however, was that the nearest fire hydrant was non-functional, officials said.

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Latest Comments

I wonder why the nearest hydrant wasn't working. Aren't they supposed to be tested periodically? That could definately hinder fire fighting efforts.

Fuquay Resident
February 1, 2008 9:51 a.m.

There is a fire station about 1/2 mile north of the entrance. They have doors on the backside so the trucks can enter Trace right there. My cousin is a Fire Fighter on the Carolina Trace Fire Department, which is a volunteer department.

M1911-A1
February 1, 2008 9:26 a.m.

Isn't there a fire station near the entrance to Carolina Trace?