HELOTES, Texas – Helotes firefighters searched for the cause of a fire early Tuesday that destroyed a building which houses a church and a gym.
Firefighters said they found flames shooting from the building when they arrived around 2:30 a.m. in the 14700 block of Old Bandera Road.
No one was inside either portion of the building, which is home to Calvary New Life Church on the front side and CrossFit Bandera Road on the back.
Firefighters spent several hours making sure the fire was out and then looking for a cause.
As of 9 a.m., they still had not made a determination.
Members of the gym and church arrived at the scene to view the damage for themselves.
Thomas Ledesma had plans for an early-morning workout until he received a phone call from his coach.
"He sent me a picture and just said, 'The gym is gone'," he said. "So I came down here to see how bad it really was, but it looks like it really is gone."
Ledesma said the loss of the Crossfit "box" is devastating. He said the gym is sort of a second home to him and others.
"I see the same people every day when I come here, and this is a big part of people's lives. And a big part of that is gone now," Ledesma said.
On the other side of the building, a man who identified himself as the pastor of the church gathered with his family to assess the damage.
The pastor said he expects to rebuild the church that he began leading a few months ago.
The building, he said, is only wood that can be replaced, while people cannot.
No injuries were reported.