Indianapolis Firefighters Pull Unconscious Victim from Fire

Indianapolis firefighters rescue unconscious victim from North Olney fire

Photo and info from Rita Reith

Indianapolis (IN) firefighters rescued a victim from a working structure fire in a business/apartment building on Monday.

Crews were dispatched to the scene at 1362 N. Olney St. at 3:22 p.m., with multiple calls to 911 reporting the fire. The first unit on scene at 3:25 p.m. found heavy fire and smoke showing from the second floor of the two-story, ordinary construction building.

Crews quickly established a water supply and deployed attack lines. As crews entered the second floor of the structure they found three apartments and heavy black smoke leaving them with zero visibility. 

Crews forced the door to one apartment and found fire in the living room. Conducting a rapid search, they quickly located an unconscious victim on the floor.

He was brought down the stairs, removed from the structure, and ALS care was established. He was transported to Eskenazi in critical condition but is stable. His best chance at survival is due to the aggressive efforts of first arriving crews. 

RITA L. REITH is a battalion chief with the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) and serves as the agency’s public information officer.

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