funeral and medical expenses, rebuilding a life

The South Bend Fire Department says five children died in a violent house fire on Sunday evening on South Bend’s west side.

Crews were called around 6:30 p.m. to the 200 block of N. LaPorte Avenue, which is about a block from the Oliver Mansion, for a structure fire. When they arrived, they were met with intense flames engulfing the first and second floors of the home.

Officials say six people were taken out of the home. Five of them were children, who were all later pronounced dead. One survivor was taken to Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to a specialized pediatric burn center in Indianapolis for further treatment.

According to officials, the ages of the children who died were 10, 9, 5, 4, and 17 months. The victim who was flown to the pediatric burn center is 11 years old.

South Bend Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings said three of the victims in this fire attended South Bend schools. He did not identify them by name, but he said two of them died while the third student is currently in the hospital. Hello friends and family, I'm reaching out this afternoon. To ask for your support for my brother in Christ, David Smith. He has lost the most valuable thing any of us could. His children do to a tragedy no one would expect. A house fire has taken his beloved children Daveta , Demetris, Dean Tey, Deangelo, and Faith Smith and left him lost and alone. With only the clothes on his back. Our hope is to raise enough money to put his babies to rest in a beautiful place. Also to eliminate any medical bills that will arise out of the treatment Angel Smith will receive and any future surgery's she made need to aid in her recovery from severe burns. Please find it in your hearts to help if possible, David needs Clothes , shoes , hygienes , a new vehicle. because his truck was lost due to the fire as well. He is in need of a huge blessing, be that blessing today and donate. Any and All funds will go to securing a future for David and Angel. Thank you and God bless. I am a close friend and neighbor to David Smith. I will be managing all donations for David at his request via bank transfer or just giving him cash in hand as he moves forward. I will be supporting him in making arrangements at funeral home and transportation to hospital in Indianapolis to visit angel.