The Barren County Family YMCA in Glasgow, Kentucky, officially partially reopened on Thursday, October 8, following extensive cleanup and remediation work. The facility had been closed since an electrical fire broke out in the cardio room during the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 30.
According to the Glasgow Fire Department, the fire started at approximately 3:09 a.m. at the facility located at 1 YMCA Way. Fire Chief Lucas Tinsley reported that crews arrived to find flames visible from a front window, quickly breaking the glass to extinguish the blaze. While firefighters contained the fire to a single area, burning plastic released hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulates, and smoke throughout the building.
Tara Bailey, CEO and Executive Director of the Barren County Family YMCA, emphasized that prioritizing member safety drove the decision to extend initial closure dates while professional remediation crews worked on the building.
“Literally, clean every surface that was affected. So that’s why it’s taking so many days,” Bailey explained regarding the cleanup process. “Even though the fire itself was contained to one area, it’s just the spreading of the smoke and the contaminants throughout the building.”
Restoration and Air Quality Measures
Specialized remediation teams, including Sky Restoration DKI, were brought in to address the environmental hazards left by the burned plastic. B.J. Strock, General Manager at Sky Restoration DKI, detailed the technical challenges of handling a plastic fire.
“It releases VOCs into the air, a bunch of particulates into the air, carcinogens. So that is why the air scrubbers are in here, because it actually captures that, and it removes it,” Strock said. Crews deployed air scrubbers and meticulously wiped down every exposed surface to ensure that accumulated residue and toxins would not become airborne later through normal daily activity.
Phased Reopening and Continuing Closures
While the main facility welcomed members back during normal business hours on October 8, certain spaces required continued closure for repairs. The small gym, big gym, and the cardio room where the fire originated remain closed as staff assess equipment damage and prepare for full replacements.
The facility’s childcare center, located in an unaffected, separate section of the building, remained operational throughout much of the remediation period to support families during fall break.
Community Support and Temporary Accommodations
During the partial closure, community partners stepped in to help maintain local health and community services:
- Senior Meals: The YMCA distributed to-go meals for seniors from the childcare entrance.
- Fitness Classes: Group fitness classes-including yoga, SilverSneakers, Pilates, and line dancing-were temporarily relocated to First Christian Church, located at 110 North Race Street.
- Gym Access: Extreme Fitness opened its doors to accommodate YMCA members during the facility’s downtime.
YMCA leadership expressed deep gratitude to local emergency responders, community partners, and members for their patience and cooperation while restoration efforts were completed.
