WALKER, Mich. — Multiple agencies responded around 9 p.m. on Friday to a fire at the DeltaPlex Arena in Walker.
According to the Walker Fire Department Chief Dave Pelton, the fire began in a wall on the building's west side, filling the facility with smoke.
The arena closed last summer. Prior to the closure, the center hosted many events and concerts. It's currently still the donation drop-off site where the nonprofit Santa Claus Girls operates.
"We're going to be closed for the first few days," said Nancy Ditta, vice president of the Santa Claus Girls Board. "Until we determine the whole smoke damage, how much smoke damage really affected all of our soft goods and the building, our blankets and our pajamas. And until we find that out, we are going to halt our operation."
Ditta said they expect to have a better understanding of the smoke's impact by Wednesday.
"We also have to have an assessment by the insurance company to let us know how they feel the cleanup is going," Ditta said. "We've got air purifiers in here right now trying to air out the building, and after that happens we will we'll know a lot more."
Tina Hudson, the president of the Santa Claus Girls, said there's smoke damage throughout the building and crews are working to clean the air. She said the fire "could not have happened at a worse time" for their group.
The deodorization process can take up to two days to complete, leaving her concerned for the state of the toys, clothing and blankets they have to deliver to people for Christmas, as gifts will start to be delivered on December 9.
Ditta said her greatest concern is for the nonprofit to keep its commitment of providing gifts to children in need, as they've already prepared gifts for 5,200 kids.
"We expect we wanted to serve at least close to 10,000 kids this year. We're still hoping to do it, you know, there's always hope that we are going to do it," Ditta said.
The facility is currently without heat and power, with air purifiers and safety lights running through generators before the deodorizing process takes place.
Although the situation is far from ideal, Ditta said she's thankful it was only smoke that came to their part of the DeltaPlex.
"Thank goodness there were no flames because otherwise the sprinkler system would have gone off and that would have damaged all of our goods," Ditta said. "This way, there's still hope for us to continue."
Ditta said the best way to help the Santa Claus Girls is to donate through their website.
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