South Bend fire officials say the Stadium Flats apartment building under construction at 520 S. Lafayette was essentially considered a total loss when crews arrived early Tuesday morning.
Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention Derek Erquhart said the initial call came in around 12:05 a.m. Firefighters arrived within about one to two minutes and found an intense fire involving the Type V wood-frame building.
Crews Focused on Nearby Buildings
Firefighters shifted their attention to protecting nearby properties, including the occupied apartment building at 535 S. Main and the area around Four Winds Field.
The response was upgraded to a second alarm, bringing approximately 24 units and more than 55 personnel to the scene.
Erquhart said the main fire was under control around 1:30 to 2 a.m. No injuries were reported.
The extreme heat damaged windows at the neighboring apartment building, streetlights, traffic signals and some South Bend Fire equipment.
Investigation Could Take Weeks
Investigators are working to determine the fire’s point of origin and cause while reviewing security footage from nearby properties.
Erquhart said investigators cannot safely begin digging through the main debris pile until concerns involving the construction crane are addressed.
When asked whether investigators had found anything indicating arson, Erquhart said:
“Nothing at this point. We don’t rule anything out. It’s way too early to make that determination.”
Officials said the investigation could take several days or even weeks.