Preston - A two-alarm fire late Tuesday night caused major damage to the Veterans of Foreign War Post 9452 building at 28 Spicer Road and is expected to shutter the post for more than a year.

The post building, located just off Route 2, was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported, Preston Fire Chief Keith Wucik said in a statement Wednesday.

Wucik later said the fire started in the area of the downstairs bar. The cause is still under investigation by the Preston fire marshal’s office but is not considered suspicious.

The bulk of the fire was extinguished quickly and was contained to the bar in the lower level. The bar “was totally destroyed,” VFW post quartermaster Richard Strader said Wednesday and the lower level sustained severe heat and smoke damage, leaving black charred debris.

In addition, the rear wall of the upstairs hall, the area above the fire, was damaged, and the entire hall has smoke damage, Strader said.

VFW members spent much of the day assessing the damage, contacting insurance representatives and utilities.

Strader said the building could be closed for “more than a year,” but it was too soon to discuss the extent of the damage or any plans to rebuild.

The post is an active organization, regularly hosting events and fundraisers. Strader said the post had “multiple events” coming up, including two parties scheduled for September, and a large event, the VFW Bike Run scheduled for Oct. 2, all of which will be canceled.

“We were trying to recover from COVID, and we were bringing things out more,” Strader said. “But this is a total downer, and a total loss.”

The fire was first reported at 11:08 p.m. Tuesday, and firefighters from the Preston City and Poquetanuck stations arrived to find heat and heavy smoke inside the building, Wucik said.

Preston firefighters were joined by firefighters from the City of Norwich, Gales Ferry and Ledyard fire departments. Tankers were also called from North Stonington, East Great Plain and Bozrah. Mohegan Tribal FAST, American Ambulance and Connecticut State Police also assisted.

c.bessette@theday.com