Two firefighters suffer minor injuries in Thursday Bloomington fire at strip mall

Posted on March 14, 2025

By WMBD TV

BLOOMINGTON – The cause of a fire Thursday night that destroyed business at a Bloomington strip mall remains under investigation.

Two firefighters were injured and two businesses, Interstate Battery and Stay Beautiful Gemini Hair and More, appear to be completely destroyed.

Firefighters were called to the facility, located at 1115 E. Lafayette St., at about 8:21 p.m. on a report of working fire at the one-story building. When they arrived, they found smoke emanating from the building. Crews rushed in to search and find the source of the fire, according to Frank Friend, a spokesman for the Bloomington Fire Department.

It took about 20 minutes of searching. The heat and smoke continued to build within the structure. Firefighters found the fire in the attic space of the building’s bowstring truss roof system.

PHOTO CREDIT- Matt SwaneyRead More »
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney
PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney

1 / 9

PHOTO CREDIT- Matt Swaney

“Recognizing the inherent dangers of this type of construction, which has historically led to sudden catastrophic failures and firefighter fatalities, including the Waldbaum’s Supermarket Fire (1978), Hackensack Ford (1988), and a Chicago commercial building fire (2010), command-ordered an immediate evacuation,” Friend said in a news release.

That fear was well placed as within 20 minutes of the evacuation, a large portion of the roof collapsed without warning, he said.

Crews battled the fire from outside, using handline and hoses that sprayed water from ladder trucks. Some of the hoses were sending water at 2,000 gallons a minute towards. the blaze.

“The training and decisive actions of our firefighters were instrumental in preventing injuries during this challenging incident,” said Deputy Chief of Training Carl Reeb. “The inherent dangers of bowstring truss construction are well-documented, and our crews responded with professionalism and expertise.”

Friend said two firefighters suffered minor injuries. Their conditions were not immediately known Friday.

Off-duty firefighters were recalled to staff reserve units, ensuring continued coverage for the city. During that time, these personnel responded to ten additional 911 calls.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…