The agency's accelerant-sniffing dog arrived Wednesday afternoon, along with investigators who are assisting the Montrose Fire Protection District and Montrose Police Department.
Flames erupted at the Apollo Road business at 12:43 a.m. Wednesday. Club owner Mead Serra got the news when a sheriff's deputy pounded on his door at 1 a.m.
  
Advertisement |
Montrose fire crews responded to the MAC after reports of a fire with an explosion came in.
Flames were shooting through the club's roof when crews arrived, the fire district said.
According to the district's incident report, firefighters encountered heavy smoke, intense heat and no visibility upon entering the main entrance.
On the upper floor, they cooled and knocked down flames behind the reception area wall, but because the rest of the floor had collapsed, they could not continue.
Crews were able to extinguish fire found on the lower floor.
Though the cause of the fire wasn't known Wednesday afternoon, fire chief Bob Pistor said it was considered suspicious. "But that doesn't mean arson. It just means suspicious," he said. "That's why we brought CBI in, to do a thorough investigation."
Aerobics instructor Kristy Barrett found out about the fire when someone telephoned her. Her job of more than 20 years was up in smoke.
"I got a phone call saying 'You don't have a job today, or for a while,'" Barrett said, while surrounded by a group of her students outside the MAC. "I guess it's pretty bad in there."
The fire district's report said the building was valued at $1.5 million and sustained an estimated $500,000 in damage. Its contents were valued at $500,000 and the estimated loss there was $250,000.
Serra said he was insured.
"I really hate to see them losing their business," Montrose Police Cmdr. Keith Caddy said. "It's a shame."
A fire at the MAC last June caused about $50,000 in damages. It originated in the gym's sauna.
• Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.
• Be relevant. Keep your comments on point.
• See the guidelines for TalkAbout. Perhaps your comment is best for that community forum, available from the home page, instead of commenting on a particular story.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!