‘Suspicious’ Fire Guts Former Roller Skating Rink

MCHENRY, IL — A vacant building that once housed a roller skating rink was destroyed in a blaze Thursday night.

Authorities say the fire, which broke out at about 10:30 p.m. and led to the collapse of the former Just For Fun Roller Rink, 914 N. Front Street, is considered suspicious in nature, according to a news release from the McHenry Police Department.

Meanwhile, the former owner of the rink, who was in talks with an investor and had plans to renovate and reopen by January, says she’s heartbroken over seeing the destruction. Lisa Duncan bought the rink in 2001 and poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into it to keep the business afloat, according to the Daily Herald.

But the rink ended up closing last fall amid financial struggles spurred by the pandemic.

When she learned of the fire, Duncan rushed to the scene.

"I just felt like I was like in shock," she told the Daily Herald. "I saw flames come out of the front door, and I'm just shaking. Everything is gone, and we are not going to be able to come back. ... Nobody can take our memories, (but) it is just so heartbreaking. So much of my heart and soul is in that place."

Now, the Illinois State Fire Marshal, McHenry Police Department and McHenry Township Fire Protection District are looking into the cause of the blaze, according to a news release from the McHenry Police Department.

Several passersby reported the fire, which broke out at about 10:30 p.m.

Witnesses told fire officials they saw two people in the area of the blaze, but it’s unclear at this point if if they were involved.

In total, 17 fire agencies were called to try and quell the flames amid high flames that further fueled the fire. Officials ended up shutting down Route 31 from Elm Street to Kane Avenue for several hours as firefighters battled the blaze.

The fire was brought under control by midnight and put out by 3:30 a.m., according to fire officials.

No injuries have been reported.

Anyone with information related to the fire are asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Division of the McHenry Police Department at 815-363-2599. Anonymous tips can be made by calling the McHenry Police Department’s tip line at 815-363-2124.