According to a resident, Thursday morning's 7-alarm fire that destroyed Building-H of the Brickyard Apartments in Bloomington began in a third floor unit in the back corner.

Keith O'Connor, who lives on the second floor, was at work at the time.

"A guy at work called me and asked me what apartment complex I live in. I told him Brickyard. He said, 'Your apartment is on fire."

Annette Morman lives in the neighboring apartment building. She said the fire got pretty intense for a while.

"I've got pictures you wouldn't believe," said Morman. "The black smoke was billowing out. It hit and it went fast."

Six companies from the Bloomington Fire Department quickly knocked down the blaze, receiving assistance from companies from Bloomington Township, Normal and Downs. No people were injured, but pets had to be rescued. At least one dog did not survive.

Crews managed to contain the fire to the third (top) floor.

"When the fire goes through the roof you get a hole in the roof and the fire comes out," said Bloomington Fire Chief Mike Kimmerling. "That's a good thing because the fire is burning upward. But the issues we have with it for our crews is that they have to get up underneath it. They have to pull ceilings and there's not always access to that attack space at the top of the building."

There are 22 units in the building that caught fire. Apartment complex owner Steve Snyder says the building is a total loss, estimating damages at $1.5-million. But his immediate concern is finding residents a place to stay.

"Today we have a warming room set up in one of the conference rooms at the Doubletree Hotel that's right behind the apartment complex, "said Snyder. "We'll be putting up anyone who needs putting up in the hotel."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.