A carelessly discarded cigarette sparked a massive fire at an Erie County golf club, causing millions in damage.
AKRON, N.Y. — The improper disposal of a cigarette caused $2 million worth of damage during a Saturday morning fire at an Erie County golf club.
The fire happened at Arrowhead Golf Course on Clarence Center Road in Akron, where flames and heavy smoke were reported. The Newstead Fire Company was called to the scene at 10:38 a.m.
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Fire crews quickly reported “active heavy smoke and fire showing from the northwest corner of the rear building,” identified as The Sterling at Arrowhead Golf Club. People were evacuating the building when crews arrived.
Because of the size of the commercial building and the active fire conditions, officials said a second alarm was immediately requested, adding more resources and more manpower to the scene.
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“The fire was quickly contained and extinguished,” according to the Newstead Fire Company.
No injuries were reported, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigation Unit later determined the cause of the fire was “improper disposal of a cigarette,” according to the fire department.
The fire caused was estimated at $1.5 million to the structure and $500,000 to the building’s contents.
The Sterling issued a statement following the fire. General manager Jason Spain said, in full:
On May 23, 2026, at approximately 10:30 a.m. EST, a fire occurred outside of The Sterling. Emergency responders arrived quickly and worked to contain the situation. We are grateful to report that no one was hurt or injured in any way.
The venue’s sprinkler system functioned properly, helping protect the building, and there was minimal damage to the interior structure. Repairs and restoration efforts have already been scheduled as we begin the process of returning the venue to normal operations as quickly as possible.
We are incredibly grateful for the swift response and professionalism of the fire departments and first responders involved. Repairs to the outside of the building are already scheduled to be started this coming week.
At this time, our primary focus remains the safety and well-being of our couples, guests, staff, and community. We are continuing to assess the situation and are working closely with local authorities and fire investigators.
We understand that many upcoming couples and event clients have questions and concerns.
Our team will continue providing updates as more information becomes available. We also want to reassure our clients that we have a clear plan in place to ensure all upcoming events at both venues continue smoothly and as scheduled. The Timberlodge remains fully available for booked events and ongoing operations, and we will work closely with Sterling couples to make appropriate arrangements when needed so every celebration is supported without disruption.
We kindly ask for patience as we navigate this situation and gather accurate information. We remain committed to supporting our couples and vendor partners throughout this process.
We also want to thank the community for the overwhelming support, messages, and concern we have already received during this difficult time.