While the Crown Point Fire Department continues its investigation into a fire that decimated an apartment building early Sunday morning, the community isn’t letting the fire victims go without.
Efforts to get the 31 families displaced by the fire at Cypress Pointe started pretty much immediately, Property Manager Mariam Jeninga said Monday. As she came into work, items were piled in front of the door high enough that it took her a moment to get inside, she said.
“It’s been incredible, such an outpouring of support,” Jeninga said. “I’ve had people coming nonstop all day just wanting to help these residents.”
Jeninga has also been working with residents and their insurance companies to get them placed in other units in the complex or, if that isn’t possible, a sister property in town, she said. The displaced residents, with the American Red Cross’s help, spent the night in a hotel last night, but now there’s a shelter set up at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 140 U.S. 30 in Schererville, for those who don’t have other accommodations.
“We have a place for the residents to stay — they have beds set up and are serving breakfast, lunch and dinner — so no one will go without a warm place while we get this figured out for them,” Jeninga said.
People interested in donating to the displaced residents are asked to bring all sizes of men’s women and children’s clothing, hygiene products and pet supplies to the Cypress Pointe Leasing Office at 930 Cypress Pointe Dr., Crown Point. The office will not accept cash, but gift cards are welcome; those giving gift cards are to ask for Jeninga herself.
Meanwhile, CPFD completed its scene investigation Monday afternoon, but the fire’s exact cause is not yet determined, Deputy Chief Ryan Cusack said. Preliminary results show, however, that the fire affected the center third of the 35-unit building, he said.
The Crown Point Fire Department was called around 3:24 a.m. December 8 to the 900 block of Cypress Point Drive for a fire, according to a release the City of Crown Point put out Sunday. Crews arrived on the scene to find a fire that extended to the roof, so officers started alerting neighbors to evacuate, according to the release.
None of the residents in the building when the fire broke out were injured, although a dog did die, according to social media. While it’s unclear how many units were occupied in the building, all units were affected because of the roof damage and power getting cut off; as such, the property manager has coordinated with the American Red Cross to get the residents temporary accommodations, the Post-Tribune previously reported.
Four units, however, were destroyed, and four additional units have smoke and water damage, according to the release.
Firefighters from multiple departments brought the fire under control in about an hour and cleared the scene by 7:15 a.m., according to the release. No firefighters were injured in the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Those residents displaced by the fire who haven’t gotten help from the American Red Cross yet are asked to call 1-800-733-2767.
The Crown Point Police Department and Emergency Management Agency, as well as the Merrillville, Cedar Lake, Lowell, Lake Dale, Lake Hills, Hebron, Schererville, Union Township and Boone Grove Fire Departments and Tri-Creek EMS, assisted.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
