South Bend, IN – Firefighters remain at the scene of a large structure fire Monday morning at a church on South Bend’s east side after heavy flames and deteriorating conditions forced crews into a defensive firefighting operation.
According to the South Bend Fire Department, crews were dispatched at 5:16 a.m. Monday to the 1400 block of E. Ewing Avenue after a nearby resident reported seeing smoke. The initial call was for a smoke investigation.
Engine 8 arrived to find an active fire, and firefighters immediately began an aggressive interior attack. However, worsening fire conditions and extreme heat forced crews to withdraw from the building and transition to a defensive strategy, attacking the fire from outside.
As of 8:30 a.m., E. Ewing Avenue remains closed between Twyckenham Drive and Clyde Street, along with several surrounding roads. Officials are asking motorists to avoid the area as firefighters are expected to remain on scene for several more hours.
No injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire has not yet been released, and investigators have not said what may have sparked the blaze. Additional information is expected as crews continue suppression efforts and assess damage to the structure.
