40 firefighters battle attic fire at North Fresno country club

More than 40 firefighters rushed to Copper River Country Club in north Fresno after reports of a fire came in just before 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and crews found the flames burning inside the attic area of the bell tower at 2140 E. Clubhouse Drive.

Fresno Fire said the location made the blaze difficult to reach, because the fire was tucked into the structure rather than in an open area. That challenge pushed responders to upgrade the incident to a second alarm as firefighters worked to get into the attic space and keep the fire from moving farther into the building. Fresno Police, the Clovis Fire Department and American Ambulance also assisted at the scene.

The sprinkler system helped hold the fire to the attic area, keeping the damage from spreading through the rest of the country club. Even so, the water response left significant damage behind, underscoring how quickly a fire in a large private venue can turn into a costly cleanup even when the flames are contained. Officials said no injuries were reported, the best outcome in a fast-moving fire that drew a major emergency response.

Copper River Country Club is one of north Fresno’s better-known gathering places. The golf course opened in the spring of 1995, and the club says its 30,000-square-foot clubhouse and related facilities were dedicated in April 1996. The venue also markets itself as a site for weddings and events, with function areas that can accommodate about 30 to 300 guests, which means any damage can affect not only golfers but also couples, families and event planners who rely on the property.

Investigators were still working to determine what sparked the fire. For a prominent local venue built for recreation and large gatherings, the incident showed how much depends on fast dispatch, working sprinklers and mutual aid when a fire breaks out in a hard-to-reach part of a building.