Candlewood residents assess damage in aftermath of fire

by Tristan Henry (thenry@wsbt.com)

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Candlewood Apartment Fire

The remains of the a fire that ripped through the Candlewood apartment complex. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

SOUTH BEND — Flames lit up the night sky at an apartment complex in Mishawaka as residents frantically tried to evacuate the building. Some of the people who lived in those apartments lost everything. Others are trying to salvage items that made it through the water damage.

The fire started around 10 p.m. Friday at the Candlewood Apartment complex. It's off of Edison Road near the Grape intersection in Mishawaka.

Witnesses say the flames started on a first floor apartment. Several neighbors used fire extinguishers to try to put the fire out but it just kept growing.

Cassie Bumpus lives across the pond from the building on fire. She brought a fire extinguisher from her complex to help fight the flames.

"I saw the gentlemen that was trying to put the fire out with Eric, my neighbor, and he was crying and talking on the phone so I know that he knew his stuff, you know that everything he had was going to be gone," said Bumpus.

In the daylight you can see the fire completely destroyed the four apartments on the corner of the building.

James Mendenhall is one of renters who lost everything inside.

"No shoes, no clothes. Only clothes I got now are the ones I got on," said Mendenhall.

The Red Cross is helping Mendenhall and some of the other renters with clothing and shelter. But they say it will cost more than $15,000 and they need donations.

While fire investigators dug through the debris, other renters returned to the scene to see how the fire impacted their apartment.

"There is a lot of insulation, paint peeling down. My apartment was on the bottom, where the fire just stopped," said Justin Phillips.

Phillips apartment only suffered water damage and he has renters insurance to help pay for what he lost, but he knows some of his neighbors will be starting from scratch.

"Its depressing, to see people who don't have a lot and you feel for them," said Phillips.

Fire investigators say the fire started in a storage unit. Right now they consider it an accident.

There are 24 units in the complex and 16 of them suffered major damage.

The Red Cross will be at the apartment complex until 8 p.m. Saturday to help people displaced by the fire.

They are also accepting donations. Checks can be mailed to the Red Cross Office, 3220 E. Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, IN 46615.

Candlewood is working with the renters to find open apartments for them to move into.

See photos from the scene courtesy of WSBT viewer Keith Cooper:

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  • Monday, Aug 18 at 10:07 AM Thrisha Harms wrote ...

    Photos of my husbund is gone for ever and my great grand father. Will will bring them back? Jesus, please tel this people not to burn them appartmets I live ther too OK

    Monday, Aug 18 at 8:28 AM Math wrote ...

    "The loss of airlooms are irreplaceble. Who will return the items?" I suppose they could return the heirlooms but they'd be pretty burnt up and unrecognizable. I think if my house burnt down that these would be the least of my worries.

    Monday, Aug 18 at 12:45 AM Anonymous wrote ...

    I heard it was a meth lab, not too suprised considering what lives there or at any apartments!!!

    Sunday, Aug 17 at 4:42 PM Abie Moore wrote ...

    Before you rent any appt you should ask if there is a renters insurance so in case of fire or fire damage this insurance at least will help recover the items lost in the fire. I know there is carelessness on other fellow renters when they hold overnight parties, then smoke in hallways always makes you sick and the threat of children playing with matches. Those rentes should be found accountable for what their children are doing. The loss of airlooms are irreplaceble. Who will return the items?

    Sunday, Aug 17 at 9:50 AM Renters insurance? wrote ...

    Complexes should add the cost of renters insurance into the monthly rent payments, then these irresponsible people who lost everything that did NOT have insurance would not be in this situation and expecting everyone else to bail them out. When I lived in Runaway Bay I did!

    Sunday, Aug 17 at 8:02 AM Terry wrote ...

    I live at Candlewood, and we have very strict rules about where you can use an outdoor grill. Grills are not allowed to be used near any building. We could have avoided this terrible fire if the responsible resident would have followed the rules clearly stated in thier lease.

    Saturday, Aug 16 at 8:14 PM Jim wrote ...

    Keith Cooper rocks.

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