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8 men on the road to recovery after losing home, sober living facility in a fire

8 men on the road to recovery after losing home, sober living facility in a fire
Police say within a hour of the post being up, someone reported a sighting. New Tonight- 8 men who lost their home in a fire are now on the road to recovery. vlog first brought you this breaking news last night. Around 7-oh-clock last night, firefighters responded to the house on 11th Street near the Carpenter Avenue intersection. Tonight, vlog's Pepper Purpura is live from where the effort to support those men is underway. Pepper- that house was more than a place to live. That's correct Ben, that house was an addiction recovery living facility. The eight men who lived there are all rebuilding their lives now that they're sober. TOday we talked with the people that run the program, about this loss and the support they're receiving to help the residents bounce back. <nats from by the house> <jessie goodwin 05;16;27;23 "STAY SOBER, STAY PRODUCTIVE, GO TO WORK, YOU'RE GOING TO BE JUST FINE" > that's what Jesse Goodwin and Jimmie Bridges have been preaching since they learned the 8 men that used to live here were losing their home. < 05;10;24;29 "I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AT THE RESIDENCE, AND, WE RUSHED OVER HERE"> The Des Moines Fire Department says all three people inside at the time escaped unharmed. But the porch and front of the home are both badly burned. Smoke damage is visible throughout the rest of the house. The fire's cause and extent of damage are still under the investigation. But Goodwin and Bridges say they know the residents have lost a lot. < 05;12;12;20 "ALL OF THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS, ANYTHING THAT THEY HAD, THE VALUE, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD HERE. THIS WAS THEIR HOME." > leaving them both concerned about how the fire is impacting the group - < 05;16;14;02 "THEY'RE IN THE MOST VULNERABLE SPOT IN THEIR LIVES TRYING TO GET THEIR LIFE BACK TOGETHER. SO ABSOLUTELY, IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD ROAD FOR THEM." > Goodwin and Bridges have found alternative homes for all 8 men, and now - < nat pop of her organizing donations> - the community is helping them replace what was lost. < 04;43;20;00" THE MAJORITY OF THIS, THERE WAS PROBABLY LIKE ONE TABLE BY NOON AND THE MAJORITY OF IT WAS A FLOOD THIS AFTER NOON" > - showing the men working to recover, some kindness in the face of a tragedy. Tomorrow, people can start dropping off donations here, at the RISE Recovery center on SW 9th St. They've already gotten a lot of clothing today and say hygiene and laundry items are the primary need now. THere have been multiple FAKE donation sites set up by people pretending to be victims of this fire, so if you do give, please ONLY use the websites you'll find linked under this story on the vlog site. You'll also find a more detailed list
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Updated: 9:34 PM CDT Apr 16, 2025
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8 men on the road to recovery after losing home, sober living facility in a fire
vlog logo
Updated: 9:34 PM CDT Apr 16, 2025
Editorial Standards
Eight men who were rebuilding their lives in sobriety have embarked on another journey, recovering after their home was destroyed in a fire. The fire occurred at a sober living facility on 11th Street near the Carpenter Avenue intersection, where the Des Moines Fire Department responded. All three people inside at the time of the fire escaped unharmed. However, the home suffered severe damage, with the front porch and exterior burned and smoke damage visible throughout. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the impact on the residents is clear. “They lost everything — personal belongings, items of value. This was their home,” said the director of sober living at the Kingdom Living program, Jimmie Bridges. Bridges said the facility is one of 10 homes Kingdom living operates throughout Des Moines. He and the co-founder of the Kingdom Living program, Jesse Goodwin, said each home serves a critical role in the residents' recovery journey. Losing one is a hit to the program, but the pair is working to make sure it's not the reason any of their tenants relapse. “They’re in the most vulnerable spot in their lives, trying to get their life back together. So absolutely, it’s going to be a hard road for them," Goodwin said. "A conversation that we've had with all the men is stay sober, stay productive, go to work, you're going to be fine."Despite the hardship, the story has inspired an outpouring of support from the community. Goodwin and Bridges have secured alternative housing for all eight men. The Rise Recovery Center at 3120 SW Ninth St. is collecting donations to help the men replace their lost belongings.The highest priority items are as follows: Undergarments & socks (new only) Towels & washcloths Backpacks or duffel bags Work clothes & steel-toe boots Light jackets or hoodies Everyday clothing Clothing items and shoes are best in the following sizes:38x32 pants, 2x shirts, 10 1/2 shoes9 1/2 shoes, pants 32x30Medium shirts, socks, boxers 10.5 shoes and 40x34 pants2x or 3x in shirts and a 40x34 pants5x shirts, 50x30 pants, 11 bootsYou can also make a monetary donation to Kingdom Living at THIS LINK. Goodwin and Bridges urge the public to ONLY donate through the link above, the official Kingdom Living website, or the official Kingdom Living Facebook page. They are aware of fraudulent donation pages created by people pretending to be victims of the fire. » Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

Eight men who were rebuilding their lives in sobriety have embarked on another journey, recovering after their home was destroyed in a fire.

The fire occurred at a sober living facility on 11th Street near the Carpenter Avenue intersection, where the Des Moines Fire Department responded.

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All three people inside at the time of the fire escaped unharmed. However, the home suffered severe damage, with the front porch and exterior burned and smoke damage visible throughout. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the impact on the residents is clear.

“They lost everything — personal belongings, items of value. This was their home,” said the director of sober living at the Kingdom Living program, Jimmie Bridges.

Bridges said the facility is one of 10 homes Kingdom living operates throughout Des Moines. He and the co-founder of the Kingdom Living program, Jesse Goodwin, said each home serves a critical role in the residents' recovery journey. Losing one is a hit to the program, but the pair is working to make sure it's not the reason any of their tenants relapse.

“They’re in the most vulnerable spot in their lives, trying to get their life back together. So absolutely, it’s going to be a hard road for them," Goodwin said. "A conversation that we've had with all the men is stay sober, stay productive, go to work, you're going to be fine."

Despite the hardship, the story has inspired an outpouring of support from the community. Goodwin and Bridges have secured alternative housing for all eight men. The at 3120 SW Ninth St. is collecting donations to help the men replace their lost belongings.

The highest priority items are as follows:

  • Undergarments & socks (new only)
  • Towels & washcloths
  • Backpacks or duffel bags
  • Work clothes & steel-toe boots
  • Light jackets or hoodies
  • Everyday clothing

Clothing items and shoes are best in the following sizes:

  • 38x32 pants, 2x shirts, 10 1/2 shoes
  • 9 1/2 shoes, pants 32x30
  • Medium shirts, socks, boxers
  • 10.5 shoes and 40x34 pants
  • 2x or 3x in shirts and a 40x34 pants
  • 5x shirts, 50x30 pants, 11 boots

You can also make a monetary donation to Kingdom Living at .

Goodwin and Bridges urge the public to ONLY donate through the link above, the official , or the official page. They are aware of fraudulent donation pages created by people pretending to be victims of the fire.

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