Cause of HPER fire could be related to construction, officials say

A fire that broke out at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation on Tuesday is believed to be related to construction that was taking place on the roof of the Ora L. Wildermuth Intramural Center, IU spokesman Mark Land said.

Land said the University has not yet determined the full extent or cost of the damage, but there was fire damage to the roof and the ceiling.

There was also water damage to the building’s indoor tracks and its hardwood basketball courts, as well as smoke damage.

No one was inside the building at the time because it is closed for the summer so the roof could be replaced, University officials said. It was expected to reopen in August.

“That deadline will certainly be extended now,” Land said.

The fire occurred around 10:10 a.m., and workers were soon seen casually, but hastily, leaving the roof.

One worker was even taking pictures, according to eyewitness reports.

A small number of people working in the adjacent HPER building were evacuated as a
precaution. No one was reported injured.

At about 10:20 a.m., the first firefighters arrived. Seven more fire trucks would show up along with other police and fire department emergency vehicles.

Onlookers could be seen standing across the street at Woodburn Hall while a stream of water shot from a fire truck, drenching the roof of the building.

A plume of smoke reemerged from the building around 10:57 a.m., similar to the original smoke that first broke out in the building.

As many as five firefighters were on the roof helping to put out the blaze.

By 11:15 a.m., firefighters were still drenching the roof of the building as a light plume of smoke continued to emerge. 

The smoke around the area was thick, increasing the temperature of the area outside of the HPER.

Inside, firefighters kept fighting the blaze for nearly an hour after the fire on top of the building was under control.

At about 12:30 p.m., the firefighters reported the fire had been extinguished.
The Wildermuth Center also caught fire in December 2008.

City Fire Chief Roger Kerr stated at the time the fire may have been caused by construction on the roof.

— J. Edward Calabro and Jake New