Investigators are still looking into last night's fire at an eastside building, but Bloomington Fire Department Chief Roger Kerr said it appears unrelated to last week's fire at a building just down the street.

Firefighters were dispatched to the fire at Eastplex, 4601 E. Morningside Drive, just north of East Third Street, shortly before 6:30 p.m. yesterday. The building housed nearly a dozen offices.

It's too early to say what caused that fire, Kerr said, pointing out rotating fire crews spent the night at the scene and were still knocking down hot spots this morning.

Investigators had previously said it appears a Nov. 13 fire at nearby Donivan's Hair Designs, 4001 E. Third St., was accidental, but no cause has yet been determined for that fire.

"Right now, it's coincidental, but it appears they're unrelated at this time," Kerr said today.

He said the department will notify the state fire marshal's office about the Eastplex fire, but expects it will not ask the state to investigate the cause of it.

"We will conduct the investigation ourselves," he said, adding, "We wouldn't really call them in unless something changes during our investigation."

Kerr said no firefighters were injured fighting the Eastplex fire, and everyone inside the building at the time of the fire got out safely.

This afternoon, the site around the building was roped off with yellow tape that flapped in the slight breeze. The remains of the charred building's peaked roof were stark against the gray sky, and a heavy smell of smoke hung in the air.

Lisa Williamson with Grant Properties said her office, which leased the spaces, is working to move companies that had rented offices in the Eastplex building. "We are working with tenants to help relocate them, either to find them temporary space or something more permanent," she said.

Businesses housed in the office building include: American Student Achievement Institute; TRP International; John Ebling, LCSW; Pennsylvania Life Insurance Co.; William D. Marvin, LCSW; The Curare Group; BCCHD, Dr. Thompson and Sherman; J.A. Baker Engineering Inc.; Rip Two It Inc.; TPS Associates Inc.; Innovative Surgical Designs; Healthy Families; and Hope Center Inc.

Building owner Frank Shahbahrami, reached briefly by phone this morning, said he has "no idea" what will happen with the building yet.

Longtime tenant psychologist Ron Thompson said he was at the Indiana University women's basketball game Wednesday night when he received a call from his wife, who'd heard from a therapist friend who lived in the area that his office was ablaze. He arrived to see to the building in flames.

By late this morning, he thought he'd resurrected most of his patient files thanks to an insurance provider willing to share paperwork. He'd also contacted most of his patients and forwarded the office phone to his home. And he'd heard from a half-dozen fellow professionals, offering to share office space until he and fellow psychologist Roberta Sherman could get their feet back under them.

But he said he and Sherman had lost 20 years' of items connected to their professional lives -- diplomas, awards, even books.

"It is what it is," he said. "And we'll just have to do the best we can."