Two fires in Bloomington-Normal ruled accidental

Lodge fire
Firefighters say a quilt and a light bulb that came into contact ignited a fire in an apartment at The Lodge in Normal. (Photo Maria Henneberry/WJBC)

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL  – Investigators in Normal have figured out what caused a fire in a student apartment Wednesday afternoon.

The fire was in a third floor apartment in The Lodge at 214 West Willow in Normal.

The Normal Fire Department says a quilt used as a window covering came into contact with an incandescent light bulb in a lamp on the nightstand.

Investigators say the hot bulb touched the quilt because the lamp shade had been removed.

The bedroom’s sprinkler system put out the fire, but there is water and moderate smoke damage, according to the fire department.

No dollar estimate of damage is available.

Young America Realty owns The Lodge, and the fire department reports the building is insured.

The fire that destroyed a garage and damaged several vehicles in south Bloomington on Wednesday afternoon was also determined to be an accident. The fire was caused by a torch that lit some combustile material as the homeowner was working on a pickup truck when the fire started.

No one was injured in either fire.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

 

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…