Fire does extensive damage to Mission Bowl

A fire Friday morning heavily damaged Mission Bowl, a northeast Johnson County landmark since the late 1950s.

The first alarm sounded at 10:42 a.m. Multiple fire crews from several agencies responded to the bowling alley at 5399 Martway St. in Mission, bringing the fire under control in the early afternoon.

The fire’s cause was unclear late Friday afternoon, said Tony Lopez, Consolidated Fire District No. 2 fire chief.

“It appears to be accidental in nature,” Lopez said. “It’s still under investigation.”

Although Lopez hesitated to estimate the damage in dollar terms, he described the damage as “extensive,” adding that the facility would be closed “for quite some time.”

A few people were inside the building when the fire began, but no one was injured, Lopez said.

The bowling center has been home to many bowling leagues and charitable fundraisers.

Diane Burnett, manager of the Misson Bowl ’N Olathe, has been contacting clients who had booked events at the Mission facility for this weekend.

“There were four birthday parties booked on Saturday,” Burnett said. “We are trying to handle all of them.”

Those needing to ask about events scheduled for the Mission location are asked to call 913-782-0279.

This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 12:18 PM with the headline "Fire does extensive damage to Mission Bowl."