SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – Crews are putting out hot spots after bringing a massive fire under control at a downtown South Bend construction site early Tuesday morning.
Firefighters were called just after midnight to the area of Lafayette Boulevard and South Street for a fire at the Stadium Flats apartments, which is currently under construction near Four Winds Field. Numerous callers told 911 that the construction site was fully on fire, along with a crane.
Fire officials said firefighters arrived to heavy flames. Nearly every available South Bend Fire Department unit was called to the scene.
Fire officials said the fire produced a significant amount of embers and debris, but firefighters prevented it from spreading to the neighboring Diamond View Apartments and the South Bend Cubs Performance Center across the street.
Derek Erquhart, assistant chief of fire prevention for the South Bend Fire Department, described it as “a lumber yard on fire basically.”
There is no damage to Four Winds Field itself, fire officials said. According to officials from the South Bend Cubs, there is some damage to the siding of the performance center outside the ballpark. There is also reportedly a little bit of melting on the signage on the back of the building.
No injuries have been reported at this time.
Nearby apartments evacuated
Diamond View Apartments were evacuated because of its proximity to the fire. Several windows on the top floor were reportedly damaged by the heat.
The South Bend Fire Department said it is assisting evacuated residents while officials assess the condition of the crane and determine when residents can safely return to the building. Those residents are still evacuated, and there is no word on when they will be allowed back inside.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
WNDU’s First Alert Radar was able to pick up the smoke from the fire across the western side of South Bend.(WNDU)
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