IN Man Dies as Home Burns after Explosion

Sep. 9—SOUTH BEND, IN — One person is dead after a house explosion and fire in the 200 block of North Kenmore Street Thursday morning.

Neighbors called 911 after hearing a loud pop and seeing flames coming from the house just before 11 a.m.

"I heard screaming from my neighbor across the street and then I heard a pop," said Norma Blackmon, who lives two houses down. "When I ran outside, I saw nothing but flames."

A family member at the scene Thursday afternoon confirmed the death of one male occupant of the home.

It's unclear what led to the fire and explosion. The house is one block west of the Charles Black Community Center.

South Bend firefighters found "heavy smoke and fire" on the front side of the one-story house, according to a release from the fire department. One person died in the fire and no one else was injured.

• Watch Video

Firefighters had extinguished the fire by 1 p.m. and were on the scene investigating Thursday afternoon.

The majority of damage from the blast and flames appear to be on the south side of the residence, with windows on the front of the house blown out and wooden beams exposed.

A woman who identified herself as the victim's sister said her brother lived alone at the residence and first moved to Kenmore Street around 12 years ago.

Blackmon, who moved to the neighborhood three years ago, said the man was beloved by neighbors for his warm and welcoming personality.

"He was always sweet and always had a good word for a person," she said. "If you were having a bad day, he might not even know it, but he gave you something good for that day. That's what I'm going to remember him on."

Wesley Lee, another family friend who was at Kenmore Street Thursday, said the man was well-known and respected in the community.

"He had a big personality," Lee said. "He made an impact on everyone that he came in contact with."

___

(c)2021 the South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Ind.)

Visit the South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Ind.) at www.southbendtribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.