After massive blaze, 16 Park's residents have lingering concerns - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

The people forced from their homes over the weekend when a nearby construction site caught fire now say they have other security concerns.

If any evidence of what caused Friday's fire exists, those clues could be buried under heaps of ashes, the ruins of an unfinished apartment building. 

The building was supposed to be one of 11 in the city's ongoing public housing construction project.

"We don't know the cause, we don't know exactly what IFD's going to find," said Justin Ohlemiller, a spokesperson for the Indianapolis Housing Agency.

People who already lived in 16 Park's finished buildings went back home early Saturday morning after fire crews gave the all clear.

"I'm nervous staying here, yes I am," said Quiana Williams.

That's how Williams and others say it will be until they know what started the fire.

"Look how close we are, that was right there," said Cherise Smith, pointing to the rubble across the parking lot from her second floor balcony.

Even when they know the cause of the fire, residents here say they'll still have concerns, like the construction all around them. Until Friday, they say, that construction project didn't have a fence around it to keep people out.

"Kids play through here, all day every day," said Williams. "In the construction site, out of the construction site."

"This is a hard construction site," added Smith. "This is hard hats. These are little kids around here playing."

The IHA says they've had on-site security since construction began. 

"A security officer had been hired," said Ohlemiller. "There was a security plan in place prior to the incident on Friday and that will continue."
    
"It's not enough security going on," said Williams.

IHA says they'll likely add more security once the investigation is complete. They also say they have several security cameras up and running, and that some of the footage is being looked at in this fire investigation.
    
By the time construction here is completely finished, Ohlemiller says there will be 80 working cameras.