Temporary Elk's Lodge heavily damaged by fire

The temporary Elk's Lodge building in Mountain Home, sitting adjacent to the site of the main lodge destroyed by fire in September, was heavily damaged Wednesday morning by its own fire.
Fire crews were called out just after 11 a.m. and arrived to find smoke billowing from the building, a converted double-wide trailer.
A preliminary report at the scene indicated the fire began due to an electrical problem in the building's heater.
Lodge Exalted Ruler Lynn Fincher and fellow Elk member Bill Thurber were attempting to use the building's heater when they noticed it was smoking. They turned it off, then tried again a few minutes later. That was when the fire broke out, they said.
According to Assistant Fire Chief Bud Corbus, the building sustained heavy smoke damage and as a preliminary guesstimate, Corbus said that approximately $15,000 to $20,000 in damage was done to the building.
"I guess we're out of business again," Thurber said.
The temporary building had been erected to provide basic services for lodge members and administrative support. The main building has been torn down and will be rebuilt. Construction is expected to be completed by late spring or early summer.