(La Porte, IN) - The former American Rubber plant in La Porte was possibly used for shelter by the homeless.

 

After the huge building on Brighton Street was destroyed by fire this week, several residents in the neighborhood reported people often broke into the structure.

 

Deanna Reese lived right across the street from the vacant facility for 40 years until moving to Niles, Michigan, in 2021. Reese continued seeing people enter the structure while visiting her mother, who still lives in her childhood home. She said people would go inside through the front entranceway in what used to be the office.

 

Reese also heard the sounds of people inside the building.

 

La Porte Code Enforcement Director Jeff Batchelor said blankets and other evidence of people having been inside the structure were discovered when they were called to investigate complaints.

 

La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

 

The building was being used to store a significant amount of expired plastic bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which was blamed for how quickly the fire spread.

 

The property is expected to be cleared soon because of the destruction from the fire.