NORTH VERNON, Ind. (WDRB) — A fire tore through a Southern Indiana recovery home over the weekend, leaving several men without shelter and forcing them to start over, as they continue their journey through addiction recovery.
The blaze broke out just after 8 p.m. Saturday at The Potter’s House, a faith-based transitional home in North Vernon that supports men overcoming addiction and substance abuse. The fire caused significant damage to the building, shattering windows and collapsing parts of the roof.
“All gone in a matter of about 10 minutes,” said Nathan Crockett, assistant house director and life coach at the facility, who rushed to the scene after receiving a call.
Crews from several fire departments responded within six minutes, but the flames had already taken a devastating toll. The heat from the fire was so intense it melted the siding of a neighboring house.
A fire at The Potter's House in North Vernon, Indiana left significant damage and displaced five residents of the home for people recovering from addiction. (Image courtesy Nathan Crockett) July 21, 2025
For Crockett, the loss hits especially close to home.
“I was a drug addict for over 30 years, and I tried everything to get clean,” he said. “Nothing worked until I went to this program.”
Five men were living at The Potter’s House at the time of the fire. None were injured, but all lost their belongings. The residents are now staying at a nearby hotel as local churches work to provide temporary support.
“When they come to the house, they don’t have nothing,” Crockett said. It's a facility that will now have to be physically rebuilt while the men continue rebuilding mentally and spiritually.
The Potter’s House is part of a one-year program sponsored by several churches in the area, which now face the challenge of helping rebuild the home and the lives inside it.
While no timeline has been set for reconstruction, Crockett remains optimistic.
“It’s a very tragic situation. Very sad,” he said. “But out of tragic situations, better things always come. You just got to have faith and believe.”
Officials believe the home is a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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