Five seriously hurt in apartment fire

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Firefighters rescued people and pets from a burning east side apartment building Friday afternoon, and five people - including one who jumped from a second floor window - were taken to area hospitals in serious condition.

All five people taken to hospitals were suffering from various degrees of smoke inhalation, and the man who jumped from the window also suffered a broken leg. Three other people were treated at the scene.

Crews were first called to the building at 5143 E. Washington at 12:24 p.m. The first units to arrive on the scene reported seeing smoke and immediately called for more help.

A nearby construction crew Sergio Construction was working across the street when the fire started. They told 24-Hour News 8 Reporter Julian Grace that they rushed in and helped residents. The crew used its own ladder to get four residents out of the burning building through a window.

"We saw the fire come in. We saw the kids and people jumped inside and put up some ladders," said one worker.

That help was key, Indianapolis Fire Department said.

"They were very instrumental in getting people out," said IFD spokeswoman Rita Burris.

IFD reports it found "chaos amongst the thick black smoke and heavy fire." Firefighters found an unconscious woman on the second floor and carried her out.

After the fire was under control, about 45 minutes after crews arrived, firefighters turned their attention to rescuing pets. Our crews watched as two dogs were brought out of the building. IFD reports five dogs and two cats in all were rescued by firefighters, though an unknown number of animals perished.

All 10 apartment units were damaged by the fire, and IFD said the building was a total loss, with damage estimated at $650,000, according to Battalion Chief Shawn Grass.

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Five seriously hurt in apartment fire