Some more coverage... Hard to believe that they didn't even have it insured.
"If anything, this has lit a fire under me to make sure we go forward. This shows the devil is busy fighting and not wanting us to be here."— Rev. Al Kenmar, founder and director of Ezekiel House Ministries[/list][/list]
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Hattiesburg AmericanEzekiel House building burns downSite will be drug rehab facilityLA TONYA FRELIX • American Staff Writer lfrelix@hattiesburgamerican.com
December 17, 2010
A building at the former Bethesda Girls Home outside of Petal burned to the ground early Thursday morning in a fire that is currently under investigation. Ezekiel House Ministries had hoped to use the old dormitory to house participants in its drug rehab program. The building was destroyed during the fire, which spared two other buildings on the site on Blue Lake Road.
(matt bush | Hattiesburg American)
The Rev. Al Kenmar, founder and director of Ezekiel House Ministries, looks at the ruins of a building at the former Bethesda Girls Home.
(matt bush | Hattiesburg American)The Rev. Al Kenmar said his plans for a drug and rehabilitation facility outside Petal won't be stopped by the early-morning fire that destroyed one of the buildings.
The Sunrise Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Blue Lake Road at 4:42 a.m. Thursday and found the unoccupied building fully engulfed, Forrest County Fire Investigator Chip Brown said.
He said the fire remains under investigation and the cause won't be known until next week.
The building was not insured, Kenmar said.
Brown said several other fire departments were called to help keep the fire from spreading to two nearby buildings.
The buildings once housed the former Bethesda Girls Home, but Kenmar, founder and director of Ezekiel House, had plans to turn it into a faith-based drug and rehabilitation facility, named Reclamation Ranch.
Ezekiel House, which operates solely on donations, is a short- to long-term rehabilitation program for men, women and teens with addictions and is located at 812 Bouie St. in Hattiesburg. Overnight shelter also is offered for the homeless at 900 Bouie St.
Kenmar said the ministry was outgrowing its Bouie Street location.
He said he'd gotten the keys to the three buildings last week and had started cleaning Monday.
He believes the fire was arson because there was no electricity at the building.
"If anything, this has lit a fire under me to make sure we go forward," he said. "This shows the devil is busy fighting and not wanting us to be here."
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How to helpAn account has been established at Regions Bank for anyone who wants to make donations to Ezekiel House Ministries.
A Christmas program is planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Blue Lake Road property to show area churches and donors the facility. For details, visit ww.ezekielhouse.org or call 584-7716.[/list][/size]
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