Recovery efforts are under way after a minor electrical fire damaged portions of the Small Multi-Sport Center on Cornell College’s campus on Saturday.
The fire, which started in the Meyer Strength Training Room, was contained, but there is extensive smoke damage to parts of the lower level of the building, and soot throughout the building. Because of the damage, the Hilltop Fitness Center, located in the Multi-Sport Center, will be closed for at least a week.
The strength training room was the most damaged, and all equipment in that room needs to be replaced. In the interim, athletes are training at Mount Vernon High School and Elliott’s Uptown Fitness.
The fire was determined to be accidental, but the exact cause is under investigation, and efforts to calculate the total damage are ongoing. The college has asked for bids from several companies to handle clean up.