Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis Fire Department

Monday May 9, 2022

Working Apartment Fire
3656 Green Ash Court
Eldorado Apartments

Dispatched at 3:32 AM
Originally Dispatched as an alarm to 3621 Lawnview Lane
Multiple calls to 911 reporting fire and entrapment on Green Ash
First Unit on scene – EG30 at 3:37 AM
Five Story Structure Ordinary Construction
Heavy Fire showing from the second floor
16 IFD Units Dispatched
2 Pike Township Units Dispatched
3 Speedway Fire Units Dispatched
IEMS on Scene
IMPD on Scene
4 Handlines – 2 Supply Lines
Aggressive interior attack
Utilities Secured
Working fire alarms in building
Command orders second alarm at 3:46 AM
Fire under control at 3:56 AMPrimary and Secondary search of entire structure proved all clear at 4:26 AMIncident Commander – Battalion Chief Dudley Taylor
IFD/IMPD Fire Investigations on scene

The building has 40 units.  Approximately 50 occupants evacuated the structure with IFD bringing 12 of those down on ground ladders.

1 male adult occupant was transported to Eskenai to be checked for smoke inhalation

The fire was contained to 1 apartment that sustained significant damage. The building was heavily charged with smoke which displaced the majority of the occupants at least for the night.  IFD Victims Assistance is working with apartment management  and Red Cross for shelter.

The fire started in a unit on the second floor.  The female occupant (40) told firefighters that she was awakened by the sound of her portable fans turning off.   She stated that she has been having electrical issues inside her unit and has reported them to management on several occasions.  After she awoke, she noticed fire in the bedroom near an outlet that subsequently spread to a nearby mattress.  She grabbed her 3 children, ages, 3, 6, & 7 and told them to run.  They evacuated out the front door along with their dog, a brown Labrador puppy named Chocolate.  The woman pulled the hallway alarm on her way out.  Residents told firefighters they heard the alarm sound and the engines arrive – which prompted them to evacuate.  Many evacuated onto their balcony and were brought down by IFD.  The woman who lives in the apartment of origin, has lived there 12 years and has no insurance. Her family has suffered a total loss of their possessions. IFD/IMPD Fire Investigators have determined the cause of the fire to be accidental – with the origin determined to be an electrical failure of a floor receptacle next to the bed.

Credit: Rita L Reith, MPIO