A gym in Reading has been forced to close part of its facilities after a fire which staff believe was started deliberately during a break-in.
The Atrium Health Club, in Scours Lane, said two intruders entered the building in the early hours of Friday 30 January and spread flammable liquid across the gym floor before setting it alight.
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said three crews attended the scene following reports of a burglary and extinguished the fire, which was tackled on the ground floor of the property. A large amount of gym equipment was damaged.
In a statement posted on social media, staff said they were “devastated” by the incident and warned that smoke damage was more extensive than first thought.
They said police, forensic officers and fire investigators attended the site and that inquiries were ongoing.
“Thankfully, the fire itself didn’t spread too far, but after taking a closer look today, the smoke damage is much worse than we had initially hoped,” the statement said.
Staff added that while equipment initially appeared undamaged, expert advice suggested much of it may now be unusable.
The spa at the health club reopened on Sunday 2 February and has been deemed safe to use. Fitness classes have also resumed with an adjusted timetable, but the main gym area remains closed while professional cleaning takes place.
A limited amount of equipment has been relocated to a studio space to allow some training to continue.
A fundraising campaign has been launched to help cover uninsured costs and replace damaged equipment. The GoFundMe page, set up by gym member Candace Braby, aims to raise £1,800.
Over the weekend, more than 150 staff and volunteers helped repaint the gym, with flooring repairs expected to be carried out as soon as possible.
