Three floors of Indiana State dorm closed by fire

TERRE HAUTE – The cleanup from a fire in an Indiana State University residence hall will force dozens of students to move elsewhere for the rest of the school year, a school spokeswoman said Monday.\nThe fire broke out Sunday night on the 11th floor of the 12-story Blumberg Hall. A student resident assistant and two school public safety officers were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and another student suffered an asthma attack.\nAbout 80 students who live on the 10th and 11th floors of the building are being moved to other campus housing, ISU spokeswoman Teresa Exline said.\n“They will be able to keep their same roommates,” she said.\nThe building’s eighth, ninth and 12th floors were being closed until Wednesday for cleaning, while other students were being allowed back to their rooms Monday.\nThe 10th and 11th floors will be recarpeted and repainted because of smoke damage, Exline said. She had no estimate on the dollar amount of the damages. School officials hoped to have the damage repaired before the semester ends in early May, she said.\nStudents will also get assistance cleaning their personal belongings.\n“We are unlocking our laundry facility so they can do laundry without charge,” Exline said.\nThe fire on the 11th floor of Blumberg Hall was reported at 9:35 p.m. Sunday. Students were evacuated and the fire was out within an hour.\nSchool officials said a candle left unattended in a residential room caused the fire. That room and two adjoining rooms were damaged by fire. The building, which was dedicated in 1964, houses about 420 students.