Boy sought in fire that destroyed Noblesville apartments

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH/AP) - Police are looking for a boy in connection with a car fire that spread and destroyed about two dozen apartments at a suburban Indianapolis apartment complex.

The Noblesville Fire Department says the blaze started Sunday in a car parked underneath a carport at the Deer Chase Apartments. An adjacent apartment building was already on fire by the time firefighters arrived and crews needed more than an hour to get the blaze under control.

Division Chief Rick Russell says firefighters were hampered by lack of water from nearby hydrants where valves were restricted. Crews had to stretch hoses to hydrants a couple blocks away.

“It’s hard for the guys to take. It’s a morale killer. The guys are there to do their job, and they are handicapped. It absolutely stifles all efforts” said Assistant Chief Greg Wyant.

The Noblesville Fire department said the complex was up to date on their hydrant and water line inspections. The apartment manager would not comment on the water pressure problem.

No residents were reported injured. Three firefighters were treated for heat-related troubles.

Authorities said the boy was seen inside the convertible minutes before it caught fire.

Since the fire, donations of every kind - food, clothing, even toys for kids - have been pouring into the community room at the apartment complex.

Stacey Fitzgerald and two of her daughters sifted through piles of clothes Monday, looking for something to wear.

“Everything we had is gone. Everything. Clothes, food, everything we owned,” Fitzpatrick said. “Once you have lost everything, you keep thinking about the things you can’t replace with or without insurance. That’s what I miss.”

Fitzpatrick and her family moved into a hotel with help from the Red Cross. She is waiting for her apartment manager to find her family a new place to stay. Deer Chase management said there were only four vacant units on the property at the time of the fire. Leasing agents are looking for open units at other properties.