Bloomington firefighters are investigating a second fire that broke out at a commercial building in southeast Bloomington.
The fire at the strip mall at 1115 E. Lafayette St. happened two days after the initial fire caused substantial damage to the building.
The fire reignited on Saturday. At 2:22 p.m., firefighters responded to the scene and found plumes of smoke coming from the Interstate Battery section of the building. More than 40 firefighters, some off-duty, worked to control the fire, according to a news release from the Bloomington Fire Department.
Due to the severity of last week’s roof collapse and the most recent fire, the building was deemed irreplaceable and has since been demolished, the fire department said.
The initial fire was blamed on an electrical failure. The cause of Saturday's fire is still unknown.
In a statement, the fire department emphasized the increased hazards of lithium batteries in both residential and commercial settings.
“Thermal runaway in these batteries can be triggered by various factors, including physical damage and moisture, and can occur after prolonged periods of dormancy,” said the department, which urged citizens to follow manufacturer guidelines for the proper use and disposal of lithium batteries.