A MAJOR fire has destroyed a Richmond gym used by hundreds of athletes including AFL, NRL and A-League players. The fire ripped through the ESS High Performance Training Centre on the corner of Church St and Tweedie Place, in Melbourne's inner east, at about 4.07am.
The fire took 50 firefighters in 20 appliances two hours to bring under control.
Emergency crews and at least 12 fire trucks are still at the scene.ESS CEO David Armstrong said the fire, which has left a $1m damage bill, may have been caused by an electrical fault in offices located at the back of the building.
He said AFL clubs' pre-season training wouldn't be affected.
"(The clubs) are all pretty developed in their facilities so they'll find another option, a lot have bought their own anti-gravity treadmills," Mr Armstrong told 3AW.
The fire is on the corner of the Corner of Church and Tweedie Place in Richmond. Picture: David Smith
He said the gym employed 20 staff and was used by 300 athletes including UFC fighters for training, rehabilitation, recovery and sports medicine services.
Mr Armstrong said the gym was insured, and athletes could continue training at his other facility located at AAMI Park.
"We'll be back," he told 3AW.
Fire destroys ESS High Performance Training Centre
<div class="iframe-alt">(Frame content direct link: <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Church St and Tweedie Place&hl=en&ll=-37.81448,144.999908&spn=0.006959,0.016512&sll=-37.814539,144.999897&sspn=0.006993,0.016512&t=m&gl=au&hnear=Church St & Tweedie Pl, Richmond Victoria 3121&z=17&output=embed">Church - Google Maps St and Tweedie Place&hl=en&ll=-37.81448,144.999908&spn=0.006959,0.016512&sll=-37.814539,144.999897&sspn=0.006993,0.016512&t=m&gl=au&hnear=Church St & Tweedie Pl, Richmond Victoria 3121&z=17&output=embed</a>.)</div>
The MFB has warned people to stay away from the area.
Church St has reopened but trams remain disrupted.
No-one was injured in the blaze.
The cause of the fire is unclear but is not thought to be suspicious, the MFB said.
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The fire took 50 firefighters in 20 appliances two hours to bring under control.
Emergency crews and at least 12 fire trucks are still at the scene.ESS CEO David Armstrong said the fire, which has left a $1m damage bill, may have been caused by an electrical fault in offices located at the back of the building.
He said AFL clubs' pre-season training wouldn't be affected.
"(The clubs) are all pretty developed in their facilities so they'll find another option, a lot have bought their own anti-gravity treadmills," Mr Armstrong told 3AW.
The fire is on the corner of the Corner of Church and Tweedie Place in Richmond. Picture: David Smith
He said the gym employed 20 staff and was used by 300 athletes including UFC fighters for training, rehabilitation, recovery and sports medicine services.
Mr Armstrong said the gym was insured, and athletes could continue training at his other facility located at AAMI Park.
"We'll be back," he told 3AW.
Fire destroys ESS High Performance Training Centre
<div class="iframe-alt">(Frame content direct link: <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Church St and Tweedie Place&hl=en&ll=-37.81448,144.999908&spn=0.006959,0.016512&sll=-37.814539,144.999897&sspn=0.006993,0.016512&t=m&gl=au&hnear=Church St & Tweedie Pl, Richmond Victoria 3121&z=17&output=embed">Church - Google Maps St and Tweedie Place&hl=en&ll=-37.81448,144.999908&spn=0.006959,0.016512&sll=-37.814539,144.999897&sspn=0.006993,0.016512&t=m&gl=au&hnear=Church St & Tweedie Pl, Richmond Victoria 3121&z=17&output=embed</a>.)</div>
The MFB has warned people to stay away from the area.
Church St has reopened but trams remain disrupted.
No-one was injured in the blaze.
The cause of the fire is unclear but is not thought to be suspicious, the MFB said.
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