Community reacts to fire that condemned YMCA

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A fire that started in the men’s sauna at the Wilmington Family YMCA has left the building condemned. Today leaders met at an offsite location to discus where to go from here and how they can begin to move on from the weekend and begin to serve the area again.

The Wilmington YMCA is closed until further notice after Saturday night’s fire, and now about 7,000 members have no place to work out or attend fitness classes.

One thing is for certain, this incident is a big let down for a lot of people.

“I just know the people that come here, they seem to come from all walks of life and every age group and all that,” Robert Doleman said. “They’re all going to be disappointed, because it’s a neat place.”

Other residents, however, say this fire could be a blessing in disguise.

“It could be a good opportunity to maybe build it up a little more, maybe expand it,” Aerial Fowle said.

Leaders at the Y said their number one priority was getting the after school program back up and running. The kids will be meeting at the Temple Baptist Activity Center through at least the end of this week.