Wildermuth center to reopen Sunday

The Ora L. Wildermuth Intramural Center will open on Sunday as planned despite the fire that occurred there over winter break.

The fire happened at 4 p.m. Dec. 31 and damaged the roof as well as the southwest corner of the second floor, said IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger.

The cause of the fire was recently determined.

“We’re pretty confident that the fire was caused by a fault in electrical wiring in the ceiling area,” said IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre.

The wiring in the roof is meant to de-ice the gutters, but MacIntyre said it appears something failed in that area.

Despite speculation about other possibilities, MacIntyre said he is certain this is what happened.

After the Bloomington Fire Department extinguished the fire, cleanup immediately began.

“Our support crew and Physical Plant did a really good job at cleaning up the mess and getting it ready for everyone,” said Melissa Copas, assistant director of marketing for Campus Recreational Sports.

The total damage estimate for the roof is $35,000, MacIntyre said.

However, this is lower than officials originally expected, he said.

Despite the damages, students will be able to use the building as normal and all of the classrooms are prepared for Monday.