From the Metro DC Fire/Rescue Wire

A landmark Washington area boxing club that had hosted such greats as Sugar Ray Leonard and Riddick Bowe was completely destroyed in an early morning two-alarm fire Sunday in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland.

At 5:24 a.m., fire/rescue units from the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department were dispatched to the 2300 block of Iverson Street for a reported building on fire. A chief officer was the first to arrive and reported the correct location as the "Hillcrest Heights Gym" at 4104 23rd Parkway.

First-arriving units encountered heavy smoke conditions throughout and from the 52-year-old one-and-a-half story wood building. An agressive interior attack was initiated, but crews quickly backed out to exterior operations as conditions began to deteriorate. A second alarm was called for about 10 minutes into the incident. Within an hour, fire engulfed the entire 50' x 150' structure. The building was a complete loss. Damages were estimated to be at least $200,000 to the structure and $50,000 to its contents.

It took some 70 firefighters more than two hours to bring the blaze under control and units remained on the scene until well past Noon. No injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported.

The building was not occupied at the time of the blaze. However, on Saturday night the club hosted a regional Golden Gloves boxing tournament. Five boxers who won the tournament and also train at the club will have to seek facilities elsewhere as they prepare for the competition's national championships in May.

Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department investigators were working to determine the cause of the blaze.

Units Responding:
0524 (First Alarm): Engine Companies 29, 27, 26 and 42, Trucks 17 and 6, Battalion Chief 3
0530 (Special Call): Tower 21 and Engine Company 5
0537 (Second Alarm): Engine Companies 23, 8, 32 and 37, Truck 45, Tower 33, Water Supply 25, ECU-1, Breathing Air 44, Medic 2, Ambulance 329 and Battalion Chief 5