Community theatre loses everything in storage facility fire

A community theatre in California is asking for help after a fire destroyed their storage facility containing more than 40 years-worth of their props, costumes, sets, and historical records, just four days before their next performance.

On Sunday, a fire broke out at the warehouse where the Pittsburg Theatre Company stored their things. Michael Wilson, a board member and actor, says he received a call from their alarm company about a smoke alarm going off near the bathrooms.

"By the time I got here, I could see the building already had flames coming out, and I knew it was a complete loss," Wilson told local news.

Contra Costa County Fire crews say the wind quickly blew flames into the nearby hillside of a park, burning 55 acres before they were able to put out the flames. On Monday, hand crews were back making sure hot spots didn't flare again. The cause is still being investigated.

As of this morning, the theatre group is scrambling to get the set ready. The Pittsburg Theatre Company's production of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys," is scheduled to open this Friday for two weekends, and the director Dianna Schepers was busy calling on the community to help with donations so the show can go on.

Board member Dianne Schepers said, "The show must go on so we are currently getting donations from the community to help us with furniture. We called it 'The Phoenix Project' because we figure we're rising out of the ashes, and we want to continue on. A new home is what we need."

A crowd funding website has been started and has raised $50,000 for the group. The link can be found here.