BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — An Indiana University student died early Saturday in a fire at an apartment complex near the campus in Bloomington, authorities said.
Monroe County Coroner Nicole Meyer identified the woman as Renee Ohrn, 19, of Gary. Meyer said Ohrn was staying with a friend when the fire broke out about 3:30 a.m. Saturday at Terra Trace Apartments. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday.
The Herald-Times reported that Ohrn lived at IU's Eigenmann Hall. University spokesman Mark Land said Ohrn was a freshman and had not decided on a major.
Several other people, including a police officer and a firefighter, were injured in the blaze.
Amanda Roach, a spokeswoman for IU Health Bloomington Hospital, said four people were taken to the hospital but that she could not release any more information. Fire Chief Roger Kerr said at least three people were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Bloomington police Sgt. James Batcho and fire Capt. Woodrow Hueston suffered injuries after entering the three-story building to rescue residents. Kerr said both were treated at IU Health Bloomington Hospital and later released — Batcho for smoke inhalation and Hueston for dehydration.
Investigators were still trying to determine what caused the fire, which destroyed all 12 apartments. Firefighters believe the blaze started on the second floor.
Kerr said it's not clear which floor Ohrn was on, but she was not in the apartment where the fire started. The chief said firefighters took more than two hours to completely put the blaze out, partly because they were conducting sweeps of the building at the same time to rescue and search for residents.
Melissa Rosa said she was awakened by firefighters banging on the door of her basement apartment. "I was passed out asleep," she said.
As she climbed the stairs to the building's exit, Rosa said she saw huge flames covering the second floor. She watched firefighters smash in her living room window to fight the blaze.
"When we first went out, there were still people on a balcony," she said. "One kid had to climb off the third-floor balcony."
Brandon George, a third-floor resident, said he and roommate Jeffrey Robinson tried to exit through their front door into the enclosed hallway, but it was too hot and smoky. So they went out to their top-floor balcony, where firefighters shouted at them to "sit tight."
With no level ground below, a ladder could not be put in place to reach the men, so they climbed down the balcony supports, The Herald-Times reported. Thick, black smoke poured out of their apartment as they rushed to leave the balcony.
"We couldn't stay up there," Robinson said.
Land said IU officials set up temporary housing at Forrest Quad for five displaced students and a former student who was re-enrolling. "We have room for 16, but won't need it all," he said.
If any displaced students from Terra Trace want to live in the dorms for the rest of the semester, they will be given that option, plus assistance through reduced room and board rates, Land said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
