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Last updated on Wednesday, July 17, 2013
(BLOOMINGTON) - A fire destroyed the Bloomington AMVETS Post 2000 after a fire broke out Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters from five fire departments, Van Buren, Bloomington and Center Township, Ellettsville, Perry Township responded to the fire that started around 3:25 p.m. Tuesday.
When they arrived, they found both the main building and a second building on fire.
Van Buren Fire Department Lt. Tim Deckard says temperatures inside the building reached above 750 degrees.
Five firefighters were sent to the hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion.
What caused the fire has not been determined and the cause is still under investigation. The buildings were destroyed.
"Everything is heat damaged or melted. There is heavy car and the fire damaged the est side of the building and in the bar area in the east building. It's destroyed," Deckard says.
Matt James told firefighters he stepped outside to take a phone call when another woman who was smoking outside pointed out there was smoke coming from a small hole in the roof. James then called 911 and made sure everyone was out of the building.
James says with all the fundraisers AMVETS has held over the years to help people with their illnesses and needs, he just hopes someone will step up and give them a place to host their weekly events.
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