13 taken to hospitals after apartment fire on Indianapolis' east side

INDIANAPOLIS — 13 people, including 10 children, were injured after an apartment fire Wednesday morning on the east side of Indianapolis, according to the fire department.

Indianapolis Fire Department firefighters were called to an apartment complex around 9:30 a.m. in the 4400 block of Linwood Court, near East 10th Street and North Emerson Avenue.

IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith said firefighters rescued at least 20 people from the apartments through windows, ladders and doors.

Of the about 14 people who were checked out by medical personnel, 13 people were taken to local hospitals, Reith said. Most of them were transported to be treated for smoke inhalation, but one person suffered a non-life-threatening bodily injury.

Photo provided / Indianapolis Fire Department

One of the transported patients was a 21-day-old infant. Another of those transported was a juvenile that jumped from the second story of the building.

Two apartments were occupied by a total of four-hearing impaired individuals, Reith said. None of those units had working smoke alarms even though they had mounting rings in place.

The fire originated in a first-floor apartment. During the investigation, it was found many of the smoke alarms in the building were not working, and others were ignored by residents of the building.

A resident of the apartment where the fire started told investigators she woke up to her room on fire. She told them she then left to report the fire to her rental office, according to Reith.

"Occupants heard smoke alarms sounding for some time prior to attempting to evacuate. Many, were unable to exit through the interior due to heavy smoke in the common areas. As previously stated, several of the apartments were without working smoke alarms, the mounting rings were in place but the units had been removed," Reith said.

Photo provided / Indianapolis Fire Department

Reith said residents should never ignore a sounding smoke alarm until they are certain there is no threat of smoke or fire.

IFD will work with complex management to make sure units are installed.

Smoke alarms, including ones for the hearing impaired, may be requested through the IFD's website.