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Arson blamed in east side house fire that injured five Indianapolis firefighters

An Indianapolis Fire Department spokesperson said the firefighters were on the second story of a home when a floor collapsed.

INDIANAPOLIS — Five firefighters were taken to hospitals Monday after a floor gave way while they worked to put out a house fire near Fountain Square on the city's near east side.

The fire broke out around 9 p.m. in the 1700 block of Fletcher Avenue, near South State Avenue. IFD said investigators found the fire was intentionally set and ruled it an arson. 

An Indianapolis Fire Department spokesperson said firefighters were on the second story of the burning home when a floor collapsed, sending them to the floor 10 feet below.

Credit: Indianapolis Fire Department

Everyone escaped after the collapse, but five firefighters were taken to Methodist Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

An IFD spokesperson said all five firefighters have been released from the hospital as of 9 a.m. Tuesday and are recovering at their respective homes.

IFD said it's the second fire reported recently at that address. The home has been vacant for some time.

There's no word on what caused the fire. An investigation is underway.  

The two occupants of an adjacent home were displaced because of disruption of utility service. The Red Cross was working with them.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 or (TIPS).

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