Published: October 30, 2009 09:25 pm         

Arson suspected in club fire

ZimMarss to reopen today

TERRE HAUTE — Arson is the suspected cause of an early Monday fire that heavily damaged ZimMarss Restaurant and Bar at 1500 Locust St.

“It absolutely is suspicious in nature,” Investigator Norm Loudermilk of the Terre Haute Fire Department said Friday afternoon. “It’s leaning toward arson. We’ve all but eliminated an electrical problem.”

Loudermilk said investigators are still working on the source of ignition, and he has been running down leads and talking to people who were at the business the night of the fire.

The blaze was discovered around 4:52 a.m. when a police officer in the area observed heavy smoke and drove around to find the source.

The fire damaged two rooms of the two-story building, causing an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 damage.

Loudermilk said he was planning to inspect a portion of the building Friday so it could be reopened for business today.