Plaza Lanes bowling alley site of large fire, roof collapse in Des Moines

Firefighters are battling a large structure fire at Plaza Lanes in Des Moines.

Crews were called out to 2701 Douglas Ave. early Monday, said Brian O'Keefe, spokesman for the Des Moines Fire Department. 

O'Keefe said that a passerby made the call around 5:08 a.m. and at that time only smoke and small flames were visible. 

After crews arrived, "they opened up part of the roof and the fire developed quite rapidly," O'Keefe said. "Within minutes the whole roof, interior-wise, was in flames."

O'Keefe estimated that the roof collapsed about 30 minutes after that. 

See video of the moment the roof collapsed:

The fire department has since requested second- and third-alarm assistance.

The fire has been contained within the perimeter of the building, O'Keefe said, and as of about 7:30 crews were not concerned about the blaze spreading. 

No injuries have been reported. The owners of Plaza Lanes have been notified and are on scene.

The bowling alley opened 60 years ago, in 1957, and is still in the family of original owner Darrell Thompson. The roof itself was a major part of what made it recognizable — sequential neon lights fixed atop it showed a bowler rolling a ball into pins. 

A sand volleyball center was added just outside the alley in 2006.

The buildings at Plaza Lanes have an assessed value of $453,000, a figure determined by the county Board of Review after a previous assessment of $1.16 million was appealed.

Des Moines fire crews also battled another blaze Monday morning. Two people were transported to the hospital following an apartment fire at 1416 Sixth Ave. just before 6 a.m.