(Michigan City, IN) - A fire late Wednesday morning at the old Rodeo Bar in Michigan City Wednesday could be linked to homeless people staying inside the vacant building.

           

Encountering smoke and flames showing from the second floor, Firefighters entered the front and back of the vacant structure at 1103 Franklin St.  Assistant Battalion Chief, Mike Orzech, said he wasn’t sure about the extent of the damage but it could have been much worse had there not been a quick response.   He said the flames were just starting to build when reached with water from hoses firefighters carried up the stairs.  “They found it and got it out pretty quick,” he said.

           

Orzech said it was too early in the investigation to know what started the fire but there have been reports of squatters finding their way inside the building.  “We don’t know for sure if that is the cause right now,” he said.

 

Complaints about homeless people wandering that area of the city adjacent to the Uptown Arts District are being addressed.

 

“It’s not like it used to be.  It was really bad for a while,” said Jim Musial, Executive Director of the Centers of the Homeless in Michigan City.  Musial said his organization has helped over 140 people into permanent housing this year.  He said their clients go through programs designed to overcome the causes of them being homeless.

 

More overnight shelters have also been created for people who must adhere to rules like no drinking and drug use.  “For the most part, the downtown area has been much quieter,” he said.