Major fire breaks out at Cudgen Leagues Club in Kingscliff

Fire crews have extinguished a major blaze which broke out at a popular rugby league club.

A fire raging ath the Cudgen Leagues Club. Photo: Fire and Rescue Tweed Heads

FIRE crews have extinguished a fire at the Cudgen Leagues Club at Kingscliff.

Six NSW Fire & Rescue engines and two from Queensland battled for hours to contain the blaze, which broke out at the popular club around 3.30pm.

Fire crews tackling the blaze. Photo: Fire and Rescue Tweed Heads.

Eight fire crews responded to the scene. Photo: Fire and Rescue Tweed Heads.

The fire at Kingscliff was declared extinguished at 7.50pm. One truck remained on scene to check for any reignition.

It is not believed anyone was inside the building when the blaze broke out and no injuries were reported.

It was feared part of the clubhouse might collapse. Photo: Fire and Rescue Tweed Heads

Nobody was injured in the incident. Photo: Fire and Rescue Tweed Heads

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A spokesman for the Cudgen Hornets Rugby League Club, who are based at Cudgen Leagues Club, described the mood from onlookers as “dumbfounded”.

The spokesman said while the building could be replaced, memorabilia could not be.

The inside of the clubhouse contained decades worth of history and photographs.

Massive damage was caused by the fire. Picture: Scott Powick.

Locals have been devastated by the blaze. Photo: Scott Powick

Councillor James Owen paid tribute to the popular watering hole and sports hub.

“My thoughts and condolences are with our local community whilst they navigate this tremendous loss,” he said.

Cr Owen said the club, like many in the area, were already “on their knees” due to the coronavirus restrictions.

A cherry picker was used to help fight the flames. Picture: Scott Powick.

Fire crews worked into the evening to contain the blaze. Picture: Scott Powick.

“This comes at a time when potentially at the end of the week there could be positive news about people being able to return to the work or come to hang out and talk about everything that has happened … now that has been taken away from many people. There is a lot of history associated with the club. It is very sad,” he said.

Cr Owen said the loss of the building was compounded by the number of community and sporting groups like Rotary and the Kingscliff RSL who used the club.

The cause of the blaze remains unknown.