Author Topic: Former Bethesda Home Dorm Burns to the Ground  (Read 7257 times)

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Offline Ursus

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Ezekiel House building burns down
« Reply #15 on: December 31, 2010, 01:04:02 PM »
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 American

      Ezekiel House building burns down
      Site will be drug rehab facility

      LA TONYA FRELIX • American Staff Writer [email protected]
      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 help

        An 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]


        Copyright © 2010
        « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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        Offline Ursus

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        Officials continue probe into fire
        « Reply #16 on: January 07, 2011, 12:25:16 AM »
        Hattiesburg American
        Officials continue probe into fire

        December 21, 2010

        The investigation is ongoing in the Thursday fire of a building on Blue Lake Road, said Forrest County Fire Investigator Chip Brown.

        He said the fire was arson but didn't know if it was intentional or accidental. Brown said certified fire instructors with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms searched the building but were unable to find an accelerant.

        The building had been a dormitory for the former Bethesda Girls Home, but Al Kenmar, director of Ezekiel House, had recently purchased it with plans to turn it into a drug and rehabilitation facility.


        Copyright © 2010
        « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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