Nearly 50 families are without a home after a massive fire destroyed their South Bend apartment building. It happened at the Park Jefferson Apartments on West Jefferson Boulevard late Monday afternoon.

No one was seriously hurt and that is what many remain focused on outside the building on Rue Gaugin, but it's hard to ignore the charred remains left behind from the massive blaze. Twenty units were destroyed. Many others were severely damaged by smoke and water. And for many who have lost everything, there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

14 trucks and dozens of firefighters worked to save lives, then struggled to save homes as wind fanned the flames.

"That was our biggest challenge," said South Bend Fire Chief Howard Buchanon. "We tried to put a trench cut in — to try to actually stop the fire in one position — and we were overwhelmed before we could get our cut in."

Hundreds stood in disbelief as thick black smoke turned day to night worrying, waiting, supporting, and praying.

Sharon Scott watched in silence as her home of three years was licked by flames then blasted by water. Her only possessions now are the most important ones.

"I got my cat and me!" she said.

Her plan is the same as her neighbors'.

"Start over," said Michael Murray, who lives near her. "Nothing else to do. All you can do is just start over, and just pray that there's a little bit of stuff left."

They are prayers being repeated by those with no where else to turn.
All, thankful that no one was hurt, but now forced to wonder why, and still holding out hope that some of their memories have survived.

"We'll just keep on praying!" said second floor resident Marguerite Burns.

Fire investigators still aren't sure what started the blaze, but they believe it started on the second floor, then spread to the roof. They hope to find out more Tuesday, but say nothing so far leads them to believe it's suspicious.

Chief Buchanon estimates damage to the building alone at several million dollars. But, that's nothing compared to the priceless possessions destroyed inside.

As of Monday night, the Red Cross had put nine families with 23 people in them up in hotels. Others are staying with friends of relatives or have been provided with an empty apartment at Park Jefferson until they find out whether their apartment can be salvaged.