MUSKEGON, Mich. — An arson investigation is underway at the Muskegon Boys & Girls Club Monday after a fire broke out in the under-construction clubhouse.
The City of Muskegon Fire Department said they believe the fire at the Western Avenue location was either arson or intentionally set.
Boys and Girls Club of Muskegon Lakeshore CEO Monica Turnbull was stunned when she got the call.
"At first, I was shocked. Now I'm upset and quite angry, to be honest with you," Turnbull said.
"We've all been coming together to raise the funds and our builders and all of their team have been tirelessly working to make this ribbon cutting a possibility and get us into this space before the school year," Turnbull said.
However, plans for opening the new location have now been put on hold pending assessments and the investigation into the fire that caused an estimated $3 million to $5 million in damage.
"We just turned our air handlers on last Wednesday, and so the damage is throughout the building as far as all this goes because the air handlers were circulating all of that air," Turnbull said.
Michigan State Police detectives are working with authorities from the Muskegon fire and police departments.
Crews are still investigating the scene Monday morning.
Authorities are investigating possible suspects.
The Boys and Girls Club of the Lakeshore launched a multi-million dollar project to update the property with a climbing wall, a STEM lab, an artist studio, a teen lounge, game rooms, a cafeteria and more.
Work on the clubhouse had been scheduled to be complete by fall 2023, and was set to hold an open house on Thursday, Aug. 24.
Turnbull said no new date has been set for an opening at this time.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.