Burlington building destroyed by fire was months away from renovation completion
by Marissa Sulek
August 6, 2018
BURLINGTON, Iowa -
Firefighters were back at the scene today of a fire that destroyed the historic Tama building in downtown Burlington on Saturday, Aug. 4.
The building was undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation when the fire started. Tenants were two months away from moving into some apartment units in the upper levels. Several businesses were set to move in to the lower levels as well.
Marcia Walker worked for an optometrist in the Tama building for seven years. She remembers the street as the cornerstone of Burlington.
"They had this lovely counter where you could go in and get some floats and some lovely ice cream things," she recalls.
Burlington Fire Chief, Matt Trexel, reports the building is now a complete loss. "I don't think we will ever be able to go inside that bulding," he says. "We had it assessed by a structural engineer and he doesn't thin it will ever be safe enough to go back inside that."
For now, all investigations will remain outside.
Another fire occured in the same exact building back in 2010. Since then, investors have been working to restore it for retail and some apartments.
Richard Poindexter owned a Taekwondo in the Tama building years back and remembers the fire in 2010.
This time was no different.
"It was kind of deja vu when I first heard it," he says. "I couldn't believe it, so I came down at 3AM to watch it and we knew it was gone."
In 2010, the fire started in the basement. However, this Saturday's fire began in one of the upper stories in the back building.
Tenants were set to move into the new apartments October 1st. Those plans will now change.
"It's kind of like they say "the Phoenix rises," said Poindexter. "But this time it's not going to rise. At least not right now."
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2 FIREFIGHTERS INJURED AT IOWA BUILDING FIRE
August 6, 2018
The Tama building is considered a total loss according to Burlington Fire Battalion Chief Bruce Workman.
Two firefighters were transported to an area hospital due to injuries received while fighting the fire. Both have since been released and their injuries are not considered life threatening.
Firefighters remain on scene applying water to hot spots and smoldering embers. Primary high power lines were struck during the blaze. Alliant Energy is still working to restore power to downtown Burlington.
The fire was called in by a citizen who saw the flames from three blocks away. Six departments and fifty-three firefighters battled the blaze.
UPDATE 8/5/18 9:00 a.m.: Fire crews continue to battle smoke and flames at the Tama building in Burlington as of 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
The fire chief says the fire started in the Eastman building and then spread to the Chittenden. Parts of both buildings have collapsed. The east side of the Eastman building and north side of Chittenden building both saw partial collapses as of 9:00 a.m. Fire crews are concerned both buildings could collapse and are asking people to keep their distance.
Neighbors say they watched the flames all night and heard parts of the building collapse.
“We gathered on the balcony and watched and they said,’get all your cars because we don’t know how secure the building is,’ and then at about 6 this morning we heard a rumble and the whole back end of the building came down,” said Mark Renteria.
Renteria says he was planning to open a wine bar and grocery store on the bottom floor of the building. The Tama building was undergoing a $12 million renovation to also include 48 loft style apartments.
The Tama building previously caught fire in 2009.
ORIGINAL 8/5/18 4:45 a.m.: Fire crews remained on scene as of 4:45 a.m. Sunday after a fire broke out overnight in the Tama building.
Burlington Police say at least four neighboring fire departments are on scene assisting – Fort Madison, West Burlington, Danville and Mt. Pleasant.
Police say the call came in at 10:54 p.m. Saturday night, Aug. 4. The Tama building is located on 3rd Street and Jefferson Street.
The building is currently being renovated into apartments. Police say no one lives there currently, but a woman had to be rescued from the third floor. Fire crews were able to get her out using an aerial truck. She was not injured, according to Burlington Police.
No injuries have been reported.
Burlington Police also say part of the west wall collapsed.