16th Street fire ruled accidental

The Indianapolis Fire Department determined Tuesday the fire along East 16th Street was not intentionally set.

Indianapolis Housing Agency reps say this building was insured, and as soon as Wednesday, insurance company investigators will begin to piece through the rubble, beginning their own investigation.

It's the next step in the process of rebuilding what the fire destroyed.

“IHA's focus now really is getting back to work on the construction side,” said Justin Ohlemiller, the Indianapolis Housing Agency Spokesperson.

The Indianapolis Housing Agency is building the affordable housing complex called 16 Park.

30 units were supposed to go up where the fire started.

The fire department's investigation concluded Tuesday.

“Our fire investigators are simply there to determine whether or not a criminal act was involved, and at this point, they're ruling it no,” said Rita Burris, Indianapolis Fire Department PIO.

Now the investigation is turned over to private insurance companies.

“The second set of investigators that will come in from the private sector will continue their investigation, and then the two groups will get together and try to get a definitive cause there,” explained Burris.

The housing agency is actually planning to resume construction Wednesday morning on a separate building on that property.

The entire project costs the I-H-A about $34 million dollars, for more than a hundred affordable housing units in that area.

It's paid for with stimulus money and state low income housing tax credits.

The insurance investigation could begin as early as Wednesday on the 30 units affected here by the fire.

Pastor Charles Willis church, Holy Life Missionary Baptist, sits right behind the apartments that went up in flames Friday night.

The fire damaged the steeple and sanctuary, and destroyed the outreach and daycare area of his church. Despite the devastation, he's relieved the fire wasn't arson. Pastor Willis says he’s also looking to rebuild. At this point, they’re not able to hold Sunday services at the church because of the damage.