Checking for hot spots: the morning after the Don Mar Lanes fire

MOUNT VERNON — Firefighters are still investigating the cause of a major fire that burned down a popular bowling alley in Mount Vernon last night.

Mayor James Moore said the dozens of firefighters who responded to a fire at Donmar Lanes, 520 East First Street, were using water at such a rate that the city's facilities couldn't keep up. Additional water had to be brought in on trucks as crews worked to extinguish the flames.

"They've been hauling water like crazy and got ice. It's a whole community comes together like this," said Moore.

KCRG-TV9's Jill Kasparie was on the scene and said she saw trucks from Lisbon, Marion, Ely, Springville, Anamosa, Cedar Rapids and Martelle at the scene, in addition to the Linn County Sheriff's Office and Mount Vernon Fire Department.

"But we do train: we know how to work together. Most of the departments around here we've worked with a handful of times. And we've helped out too. so we're kind of used to each other," said Derek Boren, Assistant Chief for the Mount Vernon Fire Department. 

Police officers and Red Cross workers evacuated those living in apartments near the bowling alley, though they were allowed to return a short time later.

Callers into the KCRG-TV9 newsroom reported being able to see smoke and flames from as far away as two miles as crews worked to contain the fire.

The roof of the bowling alley was charred appeared charred in several places, and flames were visible as of 10:15 p.m.

The fire department auxiliary brought water to the firefighters who responded as they continued to douse the flames and paramedics monitored the crews as they went back and forth from the scene.

Many onlookers thought of the memories that the bowling alley held.

"I think its a tragedy, it's very sad. This is a popular place here in Mount Vernon. A lot of people bowled here. And they ran a sand volleyball league here.," said Tony Plaut, resident. "Got a lot of fun activity here, so it's very sad."

The alley hosted the high school's after prom activities. 

"Its been here since, I've been in Lisbon for school my whole life. It's been there every year. so post prom has been held there, like he said. It's just a place to hang out," said Jake Masters, resident.

Authorities said they did not know of any injuries reported as a result of the fire as of 10 p.m.

There was no immediate word on how the fire started.