INDIANAPOLIS --
Three businesses were destroyed Tuesday night when a fire gutted the building that housed them on Indianapolis' east side.
The fire began at about 9:40 p.m. at 4820 E. Michigan St. Firefighters were again hampered by hydrants that were inoperable, marking the third such fire in the last two days.
Firefighters found four hydrants that were frozen, delaying their efforts to battle the blaze by about 10 minutes.
"Two days in a row -- that's very, very uncommon that we would find so many hydrants in the individual areas that had large-scale fires like this," said Indianapolis fire Capt. Rita Reith. "It's very, very frustrating for the firefighters, because it's just a lot of work trying to find the water."
During that time, the fire engulfed the building, which housed Kervan Insurance and Realty, C-4 Music Studio and Instant Replay Sporting Goods. Once they were able to find a water supply, firefighters spent two hours dousing the flames.
Kervan estimated the loss at about $200,000. Investigators aren't sure what sparked the blaze.
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