On the cold night of January 28th, 2024, our team at Redress South Bend rushed to the scene of a fire, marking a significant moment as we covered our inaugural blaze. You can find our initial coverage here. Several weeks have passed since that night, and we've now obtained the investigation reports and relevant documents from the South Bend Fire Department for a comprehensive follow-up on the incident.
Before we dissect these documents, I feel it's crucial to share a personal anecdote. Most of you might know I reside near the College & Humboldt intersection, just a stone's throw away from where the fire broke out. Driven by instinct and our commitment to investigative journalism, we chased the blaring sirens in the dead of night, unaware that the flames were engulfing Kingdom Closet. This revelation was particularly heart-wrenching, considering my wife Sarah and I have previously been a part of Councilman Lee's congregation. Seeing the tangible efforts he and his wife, Pastor Charisse, have dedicated to their properties, the event felt even closer to home. With reporting live from the scene of the fire as it happened, it's now time to deep-dive into the investigation, staying true to the essence of thorough reporting by sharing the obtained documents and the official response from the South Bend Fire Department. Upon submitting my request for public records, I sought a variety of documents encompassing the Fire Investigation, Inspection Reports, Incident Reports, Photos, and Violations. The response from the South Bend Fire Department was impressively comprehensive, comprising two PDFs detailing the incident across 20 pages and a collection of 134 photographs. The thoroughness displayed by the firefighters in their documentation is commendable. Their reports provide a remarkable account of the participants, the duration of their involvement, their specific roles, and the use and cleanup of their equipment. While I observed the incident from a distance, the detailed accounts in the reports gave me a vivid sense of presence inside the building. The documents concluded with a segment titled "FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION," stating: "Ruling out all possible ignition sources, data collected, and the structure being secured,
"there is a high probability this was an intentionally set fire."
The statement in question is deeply concerning. It is disheartening to think that such intense hatred and malicious intent could exist in any location, especially one with the noble mission of Kingdom Closet. We at Redress are deeply troubled by the situation and sincerely hope that Kingdom Closet will be able to fully recuperate from this tragic event. Our thoughts go out to Pastor Lee, Pastor Charisse, and all those impacted by this senseless act of violence. It is our wish that they will be able to continue their ministry and make a positive difference within the West Side community. View the PDFs:
View the 134 Photo's Below
(Donation details for Kingdom Closet can be found below the photos.)
If you feel inclined to donate to the Kingdom Closet
recovery and restoration efforts:
Kingdom Closet CashApp: $KCCSBI
Items on Their Amazon Wish List
