Fire damages Bloomington apartment house

Posted on April 30, 2018
Firefighters remained on scene for more than three hours controlling the blaze on all three floors on a home at 605 E. Front St. on Monday. (Photo by Eric Stock/WJBC)

By Eric Stock and Greg Halbleib

BLOOMINGTON – Fire severely damaged an apartment house east of downtown Bloomington Monday afternoon.

Bloomington firefighters received the call to the three-story brick building at 605 E. Front St. shortly before 2 p.m..

Owner Chase Cavalera said the building contains six apartments.

“This is a landlord’s nightmare, but I’m glad everybody’s out,” Cavalera said. “I just hope there are no pets in there.”

The Bloomington Fire Department said in a statement that one dog was pulled from the scene, given oxygen and taken to a local animal hospital. One firefighter was also hospitalized with minor injuries.

Cavalera said he was told everyone in the building escaped uninjured.The eight residents of the home are receiving housing and other assistance from the Red Cross of the Heartland.

Bloomington fire officials said the blaze caused $125,000 in damages.

Cavalera said he believes the structure was built in 1904 and he has owned it for about five years.

No cause has been determined.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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