Fire damages apartment complex

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Fire tore through an apartment building on the city's southeast side Monday morning.

A Franklin Township firefighter spotted the flames while driving by the Overlook at Valley Ridge Apartments near South Port and Emerson.

Several people were inside when the fire broke out, but all were able to escape unharmed. Firefighters from Perry Township, Franklin Township, Beech Grove and Indianapolis crews responded to the call. Flames were spreading quickly by the time the first units arrived. 

“It was actually through the roof. When we turned the corner with in the first minute of the report of the fire, we could see the fire from Southport Road. It was through the roof and that’s a challenge because of the possibility of collapse at some point,” said Division Chief Elbert Davidson, Franklin Fire Department.

“I got a little concerned when I saw them cutting the roof on the apartment above us. I wonder what was going to get into ours,” said Robert Lyons, a resident.

24-Hour News 8 spoke to a woman who lived in one of the apartments. She said she was on the internet when she smelled some smoke. She went to look out on her deck and she saw flames shooting up. She immediately left her apartment and called 911. Firefighters were already on the scene. Once the flames were out, crews spent an additional hour or so, working on hot spots and clearing out some of the debris.

Firefighters said six to eight apartments were damaged either by the flames, the smoke or the water.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.