As training winded down after 5 p.m. on Monday, Frank Porter, operations manager at Ace Boxing Club, and his students thought they smelled something burning.
As they looked around, they noticed the smell getting stronger.
“Then I saw some smoke by the back emergency door,” Porter said.
He sprayed a fire extinguisher toward the smoke, which was coming from the ceiling, and called for help.
“If we didn’t catch it, the whole building would be gone today,” Porter said.
No one was injured. Porter said it was an electrical fire and that it will cost at least $6,000 to repair and reopen the club.
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski confirmed that the fire was caused by an electrical issue.
“It was handled pretty quickly. And Milwaukee County Sheriff was requested because it was county property,” Lipski said. “We let We Energies know … in case there was some sort of other electrical issue, larger in nature.”
The South Side nonprofit, located at 2160 S. 10th St. in Kosciuszko Park, serves around 15 to 25 youths and adults a day, Porter said. At the time of the fire, around 15 students were there.
‘They love this place so much’
Several students stuck around as fire officials worked the scene.
“They all had their heads down. They love this place so much,” Porter said. “One 13-year-old boy stayed until the end and cleaned up with his dad.”
Porter said a friend drove down from Hartford to help him board up the doors.
Founded by Porter’s father, Del Porter, in 1960, the club has served thousands in the city. The club leases the building from Milwaukee County, which renamed it the Del Porter Pavilion in 2007. Del Porter died in 2008.
Porter said county officials visited Tuesday and said that the building’s lease stipulates that the club was responsible for the repairs.
He said his club, which has no paid staff, including Porter, teaches young people the importance of healthy habits, teamwork, self-control and loyalty. It also urges youths to refrain from violence and avoid the street life, which is reflected in the club’s motto: “Better to sweat in the gym than to bleed in the streets.”
NNS featured Ace Boxing Club in a 2021 story. At the time, the club served 300 youths a year.
How you can help
Porter said he’s thankful no one got hurt and that they were there to catch the fire before it spread. Unfortunately, he said, they will have to raise money to make repairs so it could be some time before the club reopens.
He hopes the community will step into Ace’s corner and help them get back on their feet.
“We hope they show us some love, as we’ve been doing for the community for many years,” Porter said. “We don’t get paid to do this. This really is a labor of love.”
Here’s where you can donate to support Ace Boxing Club as plans are made to reopen.
Reporter Devin Blake contributed to this story.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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