The Bloomington Fire Department responded Wednesday night to a structure fire in the 400 block of Douglas Street that displaced five people but caused no injuries.
Crews were dispatched at 7:58 p.m. and arrived within four minutes to find heavy flames spreading into the attic of a house converted into two apartments. Firefighters quickly deployed multiple hose lines to contain the blaze and conducted primary searches, confirming all occupants had safely escaped.
The front apartment sustained major fire damage, while the rear unit suffered smoke and water damage. More than 30 firefighters responded, and off-duty personnel were called in to maintain citywide coverage. The final crews cleared the scene at 11:28 p.m.
Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by the careless disposal of smoking materials. Four adults and one child were displaced and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.
Officials noted that only one tenant had renters’ insurance, underscoring the importance of coverage to protect belongings after such incidents.
