South Bend apartment construction site engulfed in massive fire

A massive fire broke out shortly after midnight on September 8, 2026, at the Stadium Flats apartment construction site in South Bend, Indiana. The blaze engulfed the unfinished structure and a crane, producing intense flames and heavy smoke.

Firefighters from the South Bend Fire Department prevented the fire from spreading to the adjacent Diamond View Apartments, though heat from the blaze damaged several top-floor windows in that building. Residents of the Diamond View Apartments were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.

The Stadium Flats project was a $22.9 million development intended to add 92 affordable housing units to downtown South Bend, with completion expected by spring 2027. The site is located near Four Winds Field and the training facility for the South Bend Cubs. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.