St Joseph Fire Department inspector Steve Henrichson tells us it was a slow-burning fire, which started in some old, paper-based blown-in insulation setting on some electrical wiring. Mr Henrichson says the electrical conduit ran across a ceiling joist in the attic.
There was not enough air in the attic to fuel a more serious blaze.
When firefighters arrived they could not discern any smoke or flames outside the building. Once inside they found smoke. One crew went to the basement and another to the attic, where the fire was spotted. Crews initially tried to douse the fire with a hand-held water pump, but eventually had to lay down a larger fire hose to finish the job.
Mr Henrichson estimated the damage at $35,000 damage, mostly to the attic area above apartment 11. There was water and smoke damage elsewhere in the building. The American Red Cross offered overnight housing for six residents of the building. Officials expected most of them to return to their homes Wednesday.
Apartment 11 will need extensive remodeling. The owner of the building has offered to help the residents of that apartment relocate.