Fire causes $100,000 damage at Lombard gun range

Fire caused more than $100,000 damage Friday to a Lombard gun range that likely will need extensive repairs before it can reopen, authorities said.

Police arrived at the Article II Range at 250 Cortland Ave. shortly before 9:15 a.m., authorities said, and found a large amount of smoke coming from the single-story building. Firefighters arrived a short time later.

Cortland Avenue between Lombard Road and Ridge Avenue was closed for about two hours and some adjacent businesses were evacuated.

Staff members who were in the building at the time of the fire escaped unharmed, firefighters said, and no injuries were reported.

Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Howell said it took firefighters about 30 minutes to get the fire under control. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but Howell said it was mostly contained to one shooting range.

Howell said he doesn't know how long the business might be closed.

"I would fully suspect the village of Lombard will be conducting inspections in the building prior to the opening of at least that portion of the building," he said.

Firefighters from eight area fire protection districts and seven fire departments provided assistance.