Clinton campaign headquarters in Terre Haute a total loss after blaze

By Brian M. Boyce
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE April 12, 2008 03:46 pm

— The State Fire Marshal’s office has narrowed the cause of a Friday morning fire at 1426 S. Third St. down to either electrical wiring or storm-related effects.
The building, which was being set up to serve as Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Terre Haute campaign headquarters, suffered a total loss to that section around 12:18 a.m. when a fire blazed forth from the attic.
An off-duty fireman drove by the building and saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof and dialed 911.
The building was occupied at the time by two Clinton campaign workers, Alexis Mundis and Erin Burger. Neither was injured, but a vehicle belonging to one was severely damaged by the fire and a purse and set of keys were destroyed.
According to a Fire Department report, Burger and Mundis were unaware of the fire, which reportedly began in the roof, until after they were evacuated and flames came through the ceiling.
The half of the building leased by Westaff suffered smoke and water damage.
Three units from the Terre Haute Fire Department responded to and extinguished the fire.
Tim Murray, investigator for the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office, along with city Fire Department investigators Brett Doan and Rick Hayne, ruled out arson or any possible intentional act in the fire’s origination.
Investigators reported that the cause could be an electrical malfunction in the attic’s wiring, which could have been associated with the previous sign mounted to the building. The only other option being pursued is associated with lightning and storm winds that blew through the Wabash Valley late Thursday night.
Brian Boyce can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.