Officials pleased with volunteer response to blast

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - As people ran from the disaster zone through smoke and flames Saturday night on the city's south side, first responders ran in, and not all of them were on duty.

"We heard the blast and knew it was close," said Rachel Kissel. Kissel and her sister, Sarah Shaw, both nurses, were at home and said they immediately knew what they had to do.

"So we took off," said Shaw.

They set up triage inside Mary Bryan Elementary School,where emergency officials had set up a staging area.

"Eventually we got it so that when people came in, we would sort them between hurt and unhurt. If they weren't hurt, they'd go to the gym. If they were hurt, they'd come to us and and we'd treat them."

And they weren't alone .

Other nurses and doctors had also shown up to help. Police say a local marine stopped to help with traffic control. "We also had police officers from the area and police officers who were passing through the area," said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sergeant Linda Jackson.

Police said the volunteer response allowed them to get control of the situation more quickly and to quickly figure out who was accounted for, and who wasn't.

"I think it was just human nature to want to respond to something like that because it was so horrific and the fact that we didn't know what happened," said Kissel. "All we knew was it was something bad and that they needed help. I mean that's what pushed us out the door as quick as we were and if it was me or my family member, I would want someone who had the time and the knowledge to go."

"Most of them aren't trying to be heroic. They just want to help do something," said Indianapolis Fire Captain Rita Burris. "And I think it reiterates the fact that Hoosier hospitality and compassion is alive and well in Indianapolis."