Suspicious fire at Kissena Park Golf course

BY VICTOR G. MIMONI

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 3:00 PM EDT

Fire Marshals continue to investigate and Kissena Park Golf Course continues to operate, after a suspicious fire swept through their fleet of new golf carts and devastated the club house recently.

Fire Department authorities said that the blaze was first reported at 1:22 a.m. on Thursday, June 25.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, on Booth Memorial Avenue east of 164th Street, a large portion of the fleet of 60 gasoline-powered golf carts were ablaze.

A second-alarm was declared 20 minutes before the fire was finally declared under control at 2:22 a.m.

Fire Marshals are investigating the inferno, which could easily reach $200,000 in damages. A security video system was installed after a May incident of vandalism and the tapes are being reviewed.

Reports say that 38 of the newly leased carts worth $4,000 each were destroyed, leaving the storage area a smoldering junkyard. The fire spread to an adjacent structure that included the course office and refreshment area, heavily damaging the ceiling and roof.

A Parks Department spokesperson said that the golf course is operated by a concessionaire, so that the city is “probably” insulated from loss. City-issued franchises usually demand that such operators be thoroughly insured.