Aurora gym fire damage: $300,000

The fire in a historic downtown Aurora gym likely started on one of the building's lower levels, but authorities said Tuesday it's too early in the investigation to determine the cause.

“The fire is under investigation,” Aurora Deputy Fire Chief John Lehman said. “It's still way too early for us to determine that it is arson. We're not leaning one way or the other.”

Fire investigators spent much of the night Monday canvassing the neighborhood and interviewing people who were nearby when the fire started just after 3 p.m. that day, Lehman said. Those efforts were continuing Tuesday.

The blaze caused about $200,000 in damage to the three-story structure at 62 S. Broadway that formerly housed Frantz Gym. It also resulted in about $100,000 worth of damage to the contents of the building, according to Aurora fire investigators.

Authorities found evidence of fire on the building's lower levels, and because fire tends to spread upward, Lehman said there are indications the fire started in one of the lower levels.

The building originally was owned by power lifter Ernie Frantz and now is for sale. Lehman said some gym equipment had been removed; but when the fire began, the building still held weight lifting equipment, mainly on the first floor.