Cosmopolitan Fire: One year later

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It was one year ago the Cosmopolitan on the Canal went up in flames.

The fire in the heart of downtown Indianapolis lit up the early morning sky and was a devastating blow to the developers who were set to open up the newly built apartment complex.

The first call came in to 911 just before 3:22 a.m. on March 12.

Battalion Chief James McNair was one of the first on the scene.

“I have seen some big fires over the course of my 27 years but in terms of volume. This was as large as I've seen,” said Chief McNair.

The Daybreak staff was getting ready for its show, when they learned it was the new apartment complex on fire.

They discovered the developers were Flaherty and Collins Properties.

The owners didn't know their $27 million project was on fire.

24-Hour News 8 reporter Joy Dumandan placed a random call to Mark Conover, Director of Communications with Flaherty & Collins Properties.

She spoke with him on Daybreak Friday.

Conover explained, "The early morning call was from you. You called to see if this was our property and of course it was and when we came out, the pictures you're showing that's what I saw the part fully engulfed along the canal. As I was driving up. I was able to walk up. t was just heartbreaking."
Weather conditions at the time were windy and cold with temperatures in the twenties.

The garage area wasn't destroyed. Some retail space received water damage. It was the living space, along the canal, that the fire tore through.

Dumandan asked Chief McNair, "Was that also a challenge because it's along the canal and your men can't come in from this end?”

"Absolutely, that was a major challenge. We couldn't get anyone close to this side of the structure at all because of the radiant heat,” said Chief McNair.

Investigators said the fire was arson and days later, police charged Brandon Burns with starting it.

The location of the Cosmopolitan was one of the few remaining spots to build along the canal. It's considered prime real-estate space in downtown Indianapolis.

Much of it has now been rebuilt but construction crews remain on the scene rebuilding the apartments that received the most damage. Insurance is covering the rebuilding process.

So far, 64 apartments have been leased out of 218 units and 16 people have already moved in. Rent at the Cosmopolitan starts at $1,000 for a studio.