Fire destroys historic Ferry Street Resource Center in Niles

NILES, Mich. - The ferry resource center is just a shell of itself after a fire early this morning. 

Neighbors in Niles say they are devastated and not sure what the next steps are for the community.  

“And when I got out here, I found ashes on the front porch and from the building blown all the way over to my place, I only live a couple houses down and I know this means so much to the community here,” said dale little, a resident of Niles.  

A devastating day for dale little and surrounding neighbors in Niles, following a fire at the ferry resource center. 

“They do what they can to help everybody out, they had their tents back there a couple years ago trying to help the community out doing whatever they could” said dale little, Niles resident.  

The ferry street resource center has been providing emergency assistance to community members for decades, offering services such as employment, housing, and food. Its loss is a significant blow to the community because the building was a part of black cultural heritage in Michigan.  

“See I don't know what's next, but I'm sure the community has always helped each other, um in Niles, I'm sure there will be calls for help, so I'll be looking out for ways to do that and I'm sure that there will be calls for people who want to get involved, once they get the building there will be an assessment,  but for now I think there is an immediate needs for the community and look out for those ways and opportunities to help people get past this,” said Christina Arseneau, Director of Niles History Center 

Though it's not clear what's next, there are calls for patience and willingness to help. 

“It’s going to take some time, people are going to have to be patient and let the system do what it does stay in prayer the lord will work it out and hopefully everything will continue and pick up the same thing that they’ve been doing and just give them time,” said Allen slaughter, Niles resident  

Investigators still haven't pinpointed the cause of the fire.