Old Legion Post Burns

BRIDGEPORT, IL (WTHI) -      An early morning fire leaves an old American Legion Building as a total loss.

     The Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department says it was called out around 2:30 Wednesday morning to battle a blaze at the old Legion on Olive Street.

     No one was injured in the fire.

     While the fire is now out, the investigation is continuing.

     Hours after the orignal call firefighters were still on the scene trying to finish putting out hot spots left behind after a fire gutted the former American Legion Post in downtown Bridgeport.

     Volunteers say the fire was already going strong when they were called to the scene.

     "When we arrived there was fire showing in the stairway and coming through the roof in the front of the building," said Assistant Fire Chief Woody Rousey with the Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department.

     Firefighters were unable to get into the building.

     They called in 3 other departments to try and put it out and keep it from spreading.

     "We kept is contained to this structure here," said Rousey.  "There was minor damage to the structure next door."

     That damage amounted to some melted siding.

     While the old Legion building is a total loss, the fire department did manage to limit the damage.

     "You've got to get there quick, get the water on it and get it knocked down," explained Rousey.  "We did that on this one and kept the rest of block from burning."

     With the fire put out the local fire department has called in an investigator from the state of Illinois to determine the cause.

     Right now that investigation is on-going, and is also being conducted in cooperation with investigators from the insurance company that held a policy on the building.

     Fire officials say they are hoping to wrap up the investigation quickly.

     They say the remaining shell is a hazard and needs to be torn down.