UPDATE: Metro Homicide called to help in South Bend house explosion case

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South Bend firefighters battle a house Fire at 728 N. Diamond and 726 N. Diamond will most likely have destroyed two homes one of the occupants from 726 was taken to the hospital with possible life threatening injuries. (Tribune Photo/GENE KAISER)

South Bend firefighters battle a house Fire at 728 N. Diamond and 726 N. Diamond will most likely have destroyed two homes one of the occupants from 726 was taken to the hospital with possible life threatening injuries. (Tribune Photo/GENE KAISER)

By WSBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Jul 6, 2009 at 1:04 AM EST

Story Updated: Jul 6, 2009 at 11:44 AM EST

The intersection of Lincoln Way West and Diamond Avenue was closed most of Monday morning as crews were on the scene of a fire in the 700 block of North Diamond Avenue in South Bend.

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit was called to help in the case.

Police received a 911 call at 1:33 a.m. Monday, a police news release said. By the time firefighters and police arrived at the scene, the blaze at the initial Diamond Avenue home had spread to a house next door. The 911 caller had described the initial fire as an explosion, according to earlier dispatch information.

The occupants of the home of the initial call fled the scene, police say. But 94-year-old Thula Ullrey in the house next door was trapped inside. She was rescued by firefighters, but sustained life-threatening injuries. She was taken to a local hospital and has since been taken to a burn unit at a Ft. Wayne hospital.

The address of the initial fire call was the scene of a reported stabbing early Sunday, police confirm. They say that because of the recent report of criminal activity at that address and the severity of the injuries of the woman in the fire next door, the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit was called in to investigate.

Authorities held a press conference at 11 a.m. to discuss the investigation.

Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is urged to call the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit at (574) 235-5009 or Crime Stoppers at (574) 288-STOP.

Stay connected to www.wsbt.com, WSBT-TV and our news partners at southbendtribune.com and the South Bend Tribune for updates on this story.

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