Community mourns lives lost in South Bend fire

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The local community is coming together over the blaze claiming the lives of five children, 17-month-old Faith Smith, 4-year-old D'Angelo Smith, 5-year-old Deontay Smith, 9-year-old Davida Smith and 10-year-old Demetris Smith.

11-year-old Angel Smith is fighting for her life in an Indianapolis burn unit. An announcement today letting community members know they can offer support to the Smith family by making donations through any 1st Source Bank location.

A moment of prayer was offered for the family and the firefighters that risked their lives that day.

Their neighbor and friend Elijah Luciano is heartbroken by the loss.

"His children play with my children, they're around the same age group and so to see that and to come from my own children has been one of the hardest things when we went and identified them, it was the hardest thing I ever did in my life and Monday morning I woke up and didn't go to sleep until 4 o'clock in the morning and when I woke up Monday morning my heart was heavier," said Luciano.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A donation drive to support the victims is set up through First Source Bank locations. You can also mail donations to the memorial fund's P.O. box.

Smith Family Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 11565
South Bend, IN 46634