INDIANAPOLIS — On Oct. 26, occupants of the Colonel Donald W Moreau, Sr. Veterans Community Center, Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF), were displaced after a heavy fire broke out in their building and forced evacuation according to a release from the Indianapolis Fire Department. IFD Firefighters removed 18 of the occupants and 3 were transported with slight injury. All residents have been accounted for, and have been placed in hotels until better accommodation can be arranged. The building is located at 946 N. Pennsylvania St.
IFD Engine 7 arrived on scene, found heavy fire showing from the second floor and requested the full response. Within minutes command ordered a second alarm, defensive operations and a 30 foot exclusion perimeter for imminent collapse in the rear. It took 3 1/2 hours for crews to mark the fire under control. The cause is under investigation,
Several agencies pitched in to help, including Metropolitan Emergency Services, IMPD, Indianapolis EMS, the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office, and IndyGo, which brought in buses to help shelter the occupants on the scene. Local businesses The Living Room and the Den Indy provided water and food to firefighters, along with other supportive services for firefighters. The Red Cross assisted HVAF with finding hotel shelter to residents. The Salvation Army Canteen was also on the scene.
HVAF is an organization that assists veterans at risk of experiencing homelessness, or are currently unhoused. The loss of the facility is catastrophic. The organization assists veterans with housing, employment, a food pantry and clothing closet, and a street outreach to help get veterans off the streets into safer circumstances. They were incorporated in 1993, and their first home opened in 1995. In 2000, they developed their Veteran Services Center and continued to expand their service outreach, including the Warman Houses on the east side. HVAF has been at 10th and Pennsylvania since 2008, expanding in 2011.
HVAF has set up a Fire Assistance Fund, and donors can help out by going to their Web site, hvafofindiana.org
