A fast-moving blaze gutted the inside and severely damaged the roof of Santa Anna Italian-American Club, 442 Dayton St. The blaze broke out just after midnight Wednesday and was under control within 45 minutes, fire officials said. A damage estimate was not yet available. An air of sadness pervaded Friday morning as several club officers were outside waiting for insurance adjusters to arrive.

“It’s horrible,” one of the officers, who declined to be identified, said. "It’s so sad.” The club, founded in 1936, provided a special place for Italian Americans to socialize and share their heritage. The club members Friday said that membership has been dwindling since the pandemic broke out in 2019, noting that private social clubs generally are losing members.