PORT ANGELES — The downtown Elks Naval Lodge has stopped hosting events for now while construction work continues on the Elks’ fire-damaged building.

Events held inside the lodge at First and Lincoln streets earlier this month were deemed inappropriate until the construction is finished inside the five-story building based on safety and liability concerns, the city’s building official said.

“The fire marshal had allowed for a temporary occupancy that we’ve since determined was not appropriate,” Building Official Brad Collins said Wednesday.

“We need to wait until the work is complete above the ground floor.”

Elks Project Manager Ron Johnson says the lodge had temporary permission from the city to hold events on a case-by-case basis, but it is no longer doing so because of internal construction.

“It really is not an issue, because we’re into another construction phase,” Johnson said last week.

Tallest building

The lodge, the tallest building in downtown Port Angeles, was damaged by an early morning fire in December that was likely caused by faulty electrical equipment.

The blaze destroyed the ground-level Camera Corner photography shop and an adjacent Internet cafe, and caused heavy damage to a second-floor game room.

Other areas of the lodge, including the ballroom, were damaged by smoke and water.