A fire has collapsed a grocery store near downtown South Bend and officials say two South Bend firefighters were sent to the hospital.
Officials tell us 25-year old Jared Pearish, was injured when a wall collapsed on top of him.
He was taken to the hospital with leg and back pains and cuts on his face.
Officials believe his helmet saved his life.
Officials say a second firefighter was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
The fire broke out earlier Friday morning at Lincolnway Foods on Cottage Grove and Lincolnway West.
Officials say the firefighters were battling the blaze when at least one wall collapsed.
"The roof ended up caving in and the walls kind of puckered out. And we had two firefighters that got the brunt of the wall when it came down," says South Bend fire chief Howard Buchanon.
Buchanon continues, "The firefighters saw that it was deemed to be unsafe, so everyone got out."
The blaze and black, billowing smoke from this fire can be seen for miles.
We have a multiple crews on the scene right now and information is still coming in.
Republished with permission of WNDU-TV.
