By Mitchell Kirk
The Pharos-Tribune
LOGANSPORT, Ind. — The victim in Friday’s early morning apartment fire is listed in critical condition, fire officials say.
Firefighters pulled an occupant from a burning apartment in Logansport before battling the blaze early New Year’s Day.
Logansport Fire Department Investigator Jason Miller said the resident is a woman but her identity has not yet been released.
LFD responded to the call in the 1100 block of High Street shortly after 1 a.m. Friday. Flames and smoke billowed from a second-floor window of a house containing several apartments.
Logansport Assistant Fire Chief Rick Bair said firefighters Brian Dixson and Mike Woolington found a female resident unresponsive on the floor in the unit where the fire raged.
Prompt Ambulance Service rushed the woman from the scene as firefighters shifted their focus to the flames.
“There was two rooms heavily involved with fire and extension into the attic,” Bair said.
It took firefighters about 15 to 20 minutes to knock down the blaze, he continued.
“You pretty much go by feel,” Bair said. “You advance a little bit at a time. As you advance, you pull hose and you hit fire and you just continue to advance through.”
A cause could not immediately be determined. Miller said Friday afternoon that the investigation is still ongoing, with the assistance of the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office.
Koko Gyi lives in the other unit on the second floor. He said he was asleep until his friend, Hau Lian, woke him up and alerted him of the emergency.
Lian said he was watching television when he noticed smoke coming into the room.
“Danger! We are in danger!” Lian recalled thinking.
Lian added he then called 911 before they both evacuated the property.
Gyi said the house has three apartment units.
The unit where the fire started was left with heavy fire and smoke damage, Bair said, adding the other units only sustained water damage and no surrounding structures were damaged.
Firefighters remained at the scene at 3 a.m. Bair praised them for their quick response, adding about 12 off-duty firefighters joined the battle.
The Logansport Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department and Logansport Municipal Utilities also responded.
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