Florida YMCA Rebuilding One Year after Fire

One year after a lightning strike caused a fire that significantly damaged the Greater Naples (FL) YMCA, hope and donations continue to grow in the recovery.

The fire at the Naples Y that occurred on Labor Day last year destroyed the wellness center and gymnasium and caused damage to locker rooms, business offices and the lobby. Damages were estimated at $2 million.

According to several local media reports, construction of a new Y campus is well under way. A $7 million project began in May and is expected to be completed in December. The healthy living campus will consist of a 50,000-square-foot building with a second gym, a 24-hour workout area and a café, the News-Press reported.

More than $4.4 million has been raised for the new Y by the community, according to the newspaper. The Y is holding the Fitness on Fire 5K on Sept. 20 to raise additional funds.

TV station WZVN reported that a lightning protection system is part of the reconstruction. The owner of a local lightning protection company told the TV station that about 2,000 feet of metal cables will connect 30 to 40 lightning rods on the roof of the Y to ground rods.

"It's just a cage, if you will, that we're going to build over the building," Lightning Protection Systems Inc. owner Lance Fleming told WZVN.