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Published on February 22, 2024
Midway District MMA Gym Blaze Prompts Hotel Evacuation, Shuts Down Roads in San DiegoSource: San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

Flames ripped through a Midway District MMA gym early Thursday morning, leading to the evacuation of a neighboring hotel and the closure of a stretch of Midway Drive. According to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD), firefighters were called to the 3600 block of Midway Drive, home of the Victory MMA fitness center, where they encountered heavy smoke billowing from the second-story upon arrival.

The blaze erupted while an MMA class was underway, and all gym members self-evacuated before firefighting teams reached the scene. NBC San Diego reported that a Wyndham Garden hotel nearby was also cleared out as a precaution as responders tackled the flames, first spotted around 6:20 a.m. The fire was believed to have started in the heating unit of the gym's sauna, said SDFD, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

As firefighters continued their efforts, the impact of the conflagration spilled over to the roadways, with Midway Drive being shut down between Kemper and Duke streets. The SDFD's tweet warned drivers to exercise caution and anticipates traffic delays from the #midwayfire.

An hour after the initial reports, flames were still visible as fire crews persisted in their battle against the inferno, traffic in the area remained tangled, the road closure forced drivers to seek alternative routes during the morning rush hour, for the burning gym has become the center of an unexpected disruption.