Several buildings marked condemned in downtown La Crosse due to India Curry House blaze
Fire department concludes investigation into April 28 inferno
LA CROSSE (WKBT) — Brad Bohlmann of Waukesha, Wis., knows someone who lived in an apartment above the India Curry House restaurant in downtown La Crosse before collapsed in a raging fire on April 28.
“He lost all his stuff,” Bohlmann said. “I can’t imagine how terrible that would be.”
The nearby River City Gold and Silver Exchange is set to be condemned, according to signs outside the business.
Tony Piazza, general manager of the exchange and Designing Jewelers next door, said the building is not being torn down.
“Condemnation is only because of the utilities,” Piazza said. “Once they tore out everything in that building they ripped out our electricity service, and that’s the only reason why it’s condemned at this point.”
At this time, the River City Gold and Silver Exchange is operating by appointment at Designing Jewelers.
“We’re just thankful that the buildings made it through,” Piazza said. “We’re just thankful for the fire department.”
Steve Cash, an assistant chief of the La Crosse Fire Department, credits a brick firewall with preventing the flames from spreading down the block.
“You can see the big, heavy, thick, brick wall that’s between them,” Cash said. “That’s designed through code,” he added.
The fire department has concluded its investigation into the blaze, concluding that it began in the basement of the India Curry House restaurant, although the cause remains undetermined, according to a fire department news release.
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