1 adult, 1 juvenile hospitalized after apartment fire in Wayne Township

WAYNE TOWNSHIP, Ind. — Two people were hospitalized after a fire broke out at an apartment building in Wayne Township Monday night.

According to the Wayne Township Fire Department, around 5:30 p.m., 911 dispatchers received multiple calls about a fire at an apartment complex located in the 3700 block of Idlewood Parkway. Initial calls first responders took also indicated multiple people were trapped on a balcony at the apartment building.

When WTFD units arrived at the scene, they confirmed a fire had broken out at an apartment complex. They also located the individuals who were trapped on one of the building’s balconies.

Firefighters were able to safely assist the entrapped individuals off the balcony. WTFD did confirm, however, that one adult and one juvenile were transported from the scene to a local hospital while crews worked to battle the blaze. During a media briefing, fire officials indicated that the medical statuses of the hospitalized individuals are currently unknown.

Medics also checked one other person out at the apartment building. That individual was released by EMS personnel and was not transported to a hospital.

“We threw a ground ladder to the second floor where people were on the balcony asking for help,” WTFD Captain and Public Information Officer Eric Banister said during a media briefing. “We put guys inside right up to them, got them off the balcony, onto the ladder and down to the ground and out safely. We were also able to stretch attack lines in pretty quick and get the fire under control.”

WTFD indicated that, thanks to firefighters’ aggressive attack, the blaze was contained to just one apartment.

Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the fire.

“We know this to be true, fire is a motivator,” Banister said. “If you’re being run out of your house by fire or smoke, you’re going to go to the most convenient exit. A lot of times, it’s your balcony. The best thing you can do is get something between you and the fire. A lot of times, a good door, close that door, do not let that door be opened.

“A closed door can save lives, and when you get ready to go out to that balcony, if you can get a door closed between you and that balcony, you’ll have all kinds of time while you’re on that balcony while you’re waiting for that ladder to come get to you or for fire crews to get up to you. If you leave the door open, if you leave the hallway door open, that fire is going to get to you a lot faster. Having the ability to get a door closed is going to slow the spread of that fire.”