Massive fire engulfs apartment complex under construction, forces evacuations in South Bend

A massive fire early Tuesday morning tore through an apartment complex under construction in South Bend, Indiana, forcing residents of a neighboring building to evacuate, according to local officials.

The South Bend Fire Department said the fire began just after midnight at the Stadium Flats apartments near S. Lafayette & W. South Street.

Fire crews arrived to a scene of towering flames and billowing smoke after receiving reports that the blaze had engulfed both the building under construction and a crane.

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Despite the fire producing "a significant amount of embers and debris," firefighters were able to keep it from spreading to the neighboring Diamond View Apartments.

Residents of the Diamond View Apartments were evacuated during the fire, with officials saying the heat damaged several windows on the building's top floor. The building has 60 units of affordable housing, according to a report last year in the South Bend Tribune.

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The Stadium Flats building was set to introduce 92 additional affordable units to downtown South Bend. Before the fire, construction was expected to be completed by spring 2027.

Both buildings are near the training facility for the South Bend Cubs, the city's minor league baseball team. Firefighters were able to stop the blaze from spreading to the 17,000-square-foot complex, which is right next to the baseball stadium.

Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries or deaths were reported.

The fire occurred a little over two miles from the University of Notre Dame's campus.