Lawrence Andrea
The Indianapolis Star
INDIANAPOLIS — Two fires along 29th Street on the northwest side of Indianapolis early Thursday destroyed four homes and left three firefighters with “slight” injuries, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department.
The first fire was reported shortly after midnight, when IFD received multiple 911 calls about a residence fire in the 800 block of West 29th Street. Crews arrived to find heavy fire showing from two homes — one unoccupied and the other under renovation, IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith said.
Sixteen fire units were dispatched to the block, and searches of the houses proved they were clear. The fire was under control by 12:52 a.m. Three firefighters sustained “slight injuries” in the effort, according to Reith. They were transported to a hospital, where they were later released.
https://twitter.com/IFD_NEWS/status/1380132212977319940?s=20
Four hours later, crews were called four blocks east to 1210 W 29th Street after receiving seven calls reporting a residence fire.
Firefighters arriving at 4:56 a.m. encountered two homes under renovation showing heavy fire, Reith said. Residents in nearby buildings were evacuated as 19 IFD units battled the flames.
Crews reported the back of one of the structures had collapsed shortly after 5 a.m., and officials called the city’s Department of Business and Neighborhood Services “for unsafe housing,” Reith said.
https://twitter.com/IFD_NEWS/status/1380136952196915208?s=20
The fires were under control by 5:47 a.m., and no injuries were reported in the incident. None of those who evacuated their homes were displaced, according to fire officials.
Both IFD and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the fires.
Fire officials have not said what caused the fires, and no additional information about the incidents has been released.
___
(c)2021 The Indianapolis Star