Firefighter rescues woman minutes before roof collapse

INDIANAPOLIS – Crews spent several minutes trying to locate an early Tuesday morning house fire—and saved an 84-year-old woman just in time.

According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, dispatchers received multiple 911 calls around 4:40 a.m. about a fire on the northeast side. However, none of the callers could provide an address, leading arriving crews to search several locations.

Eventually, firefighters identified the origin point as a home in the 5200 block of Windridge Drive. By the time they arrived, most of the structure was already engulfed in heavy flames. The first unit arrived at 4:55 a.m.

Firefighters located a single window in the rear where they could enter the home. Using a Halligan tool as a climbing device, a firefighter got inside and found a woman unconscious on her bed. He brought her out through the same window and handed her to other firefighters waiting outside.

The bedroom door was shut, keeping much of the smoke out of the room. However, flames were tearing through the attic above. Just two or three minutes after the firefighter exited the room, the roof collapsed.

The woman was taken to an area hospital in critical condition. No other people were inside the home, although IFD said a cat died.

Crews had the fire under control by 5:44 a.m. The cause remains under investigation.