LAKELAND, Fla. — An investigation into a fire at the Wedgewood Golf & Country Club in Lakeland now involves The Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention, which is offering up to $5,000 for more information.
The Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) said crews responded to the abandoned building around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday to find the entire structure "heavily involved in smoke and fire." Both Polk County Fire Rescue and the Lakeland Police Department were on the scene working to put out the flames. LFD alone had seven units assisting, the agency said in a Facebook post.
According to a website that shares information about golf courses in Polk County, the Wedgewood Golf & Country Club was permanently closed as of 2022 after a housing development company purchased the property.
Drone footage taken by Richie Shannon shows a massive ball of flames and smoke coming from the center of the building, which then grows to encompass nearly the entire country club.
The Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention is offering the $5,000 reward to anyone with information that could lead investigators to whoever may be responsible for the fire, if it was arson. To report a tip, officials said to call 1-877-662-7766 for a toll-free line or call Detective Gordon at 813-220-6264. The case number is 24-1090.