Indianapolis, IN – Two Indianapolis firefighters sustained injuries early Wednesday morning when the roof of a burning home collapsed during a blaze on the city’s southeast side. Both firefighters were briefly trapped inside the structure before escaping.
According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, the incident occurred at 1:22 a.m. Crews were conducting a final search on the second floor when they heard a loud noise and the roof caved in. A mayday was declared immediately. The firefighters were freed and taken to Eskenazi Hospital. One suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the other sustained minor injuries.
The fire, which spread quickly from the back deck into the attic, was discovered by a sleeping family’s dog. The four-year-old dog, Rockne, barked and alerted the family to the fire, allowing them to evacuate safely. Homes on either side were also affected.
Discarded smoking materials are believed to be the cause of the fire. Fire officials urge homeowners to properly dispose of smoking materials to prevent similar incidents.
