Sugar Creek Apartment Fire Cause Determined

NORMAL, Ill.- The Normal Fire Department Investigation Team has concluded the investigation into the origin and cause of the fire that heavily damaged or destroyed 12 apartments at the Sugar Creek Apartments at 606 S. Linden Street.

Fire investigators have determined the cause of the fire was accidental and was related to repair work being performed inside a garden level (lower-level) apartment.  The fire spread inside the walls and void spaces and extended into the attic before the fire department arrived.

Insurance adjusters are working with the building owners to determine a full damage estimate.

Normal Fire Department wants to remind residents of these important fire safety reminders:

• Make sure that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are functional at all times.  Never remove them, and never take out the batteries.  Test them monthly, and if the detector is more than 10 years old, the entire detector should be replaced.
• At a minimum, there should be at least one smoke alarm on each level of every home, and one located inside and outside of all sleeping rooms.  Interconnected smoke alarms provide the best warning, because if one alarm goes off, they all go off.
• Close all bedroom doors before going to sleep. The door is a valuable barrier between the toxic smoke and heat generated in a fire and gives you time to escape, plus it prevents damage from spreading through the house.
• Have two ways out of every room used for sleeping and that make sure everyone goes to one meeting place outside if there is a fire.  When firefighters arrive, let us know if anyone is missing and where they were last seen.
• Never go back into a burning building for any reason.  Get out and stay out!
• Call 9-1-1 to report any fire or suspected fire as soon as possible.