INDIANAPOLIS — A 10-month-old boy and a firefighter were injured Friday afternoon in a house fire on the city's east side.
The boy is in critical condition and had CPR performed on him before being taken to the hospital. The firefighter was slightly injured.
According to IFD, crews were called to a home in the 500 block of N. Hamilton Ave for a double residence fire with entrapment.
The fire started in the living room around 1 p.m.
Two dogs perished in the fire, according to IFD.
IFD says a 16 year old, her 10 month old baby and three other kids ages 10, 3 and 2 were inside when the fire started.
IFD crews arrived to hear neighbors yelling that the baby was still inside in an upstairs bedroom.
"All we heard was the windows bursting and it sounded like, I don't even know what. We thought our windows were busted, so we ran outside and we seen a bunch of smoke and we heard a baby just screaming, screaming, screaming," one neighbor told WRTV's Rachael Wilkerson.
The other side of the duplex is under renovation and no one lived there.
The cause of the fire was ruled accidental and caused by a space heater too close to combustibles.
IFD says the home did have working smoke alarms and the 10-year-old was the first one to notice the fire.
IFD wants the community to know there is help in obtaining and having smoke alarms installed. In January, six people died as a result of house fires - the same number of people who died in all of 2022.
"Contact us please. We're there for you. We'll help you install them; we'll look at the ones in your home. We'll help you with your safety plan — knowing how to get out of your home [and] having a plan of where your children will meet at," IFD Division Chief Michael Beard said.
If you live in the IFD service district and need a smoke alarm, you can request one here. You can also contact IFD with questions or concerns.
Beard says having working smoke detectors can decrease the risk of fire-related death by half.
If requested, the IFD will install a 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke alarm. Alarms for those who are deaf or hard of hearing are available as well.
"Our goal is to keep people safe, to save the lives of our community," Beard said. "Put your smoke alarms in, test them monthly and make sure that they meet the manufacturer's requirements."
-
Boone County officials seek resident input on comprehensive plan
Residents armed with sticky notes, pens and ideas gathered for a Boone County Comprehensive Plan workshop to help map the county’s future and shape growth for the next 20 years.
Buy now, pay later can be tempting — but experts warn of financial risks
A recent survey by LegalShield found that three in four Americans are using buy now, pay later services.
Hobnob Corner Restaurant in Brown County closing after more than 40 years
The Hobnob Corner Restaurant in Nashville stayed the same, even as the leaves in Brown County changed every fall. However, the restaurant will serve its last meals once autumn is over.
Greenfield man meets pilot who delivered his lifesaving heart transplant
A Greenfield man who dedicated part of his life to saving others is now alive because of a lifesaving mission and the pilot and team behind it all.
