INDIANAPOLIS — Two teenagers were taken to the hospital after an apartment fire on Indianapolis' near northeast side early Monday morning.
Around 3:30 a.m. Jan. 15, crews were called to an apartment complex in the 2400 block of Beckwith Drive, near East 25th Street and North Keystone Avenue, for reports of the fire. Crews found fire and smoke coming from an apartment building, and worked for more than half an hour to bring the fire under control.
According to IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith, a 13-year-old girl was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in serious condition, and a 16-year-old boy, whose condition was said to be "stable," was also taken to Eskenazi Hospital.
IFD said both of the teenagers were out of the apartment before firefighters arrived.
The 16-year-old told firefighters he woke up to his sister screaming and found heavy smoke and fire inside the apartment. He said he picked up his sister, carried her down the stairs and out the back door of the apartment.
"You certainly can credit him for his bravery in doing that," Reith said. "He originally told us that he woke up to his sister screaming, so that's how they were awakened, not by any working smoke alarms."
The 16-year-old told investigators there were several space heaters on inside the apartment, as well as using the stove for heat, but said they turned it off before they went to sleep. According to IFD, it is not clear yet if either of those issues started the fire.
IFD said there were no adults home when the fire started. The boy said their mother was at work.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and it wasn't yet known how many apartments had been impacted by the fire, Reith said.
IFD confirmed this was the sixth fire the department responded to in 48 hours.
"Working conditions have been brutally cold, and firefighters are utilizing all available avenues to ensure safety on scene," Reith said. "We understand this is the cost of doing business, especially this time of year. The cold weather, the water flowing on the fire, the freezing of all the surfaces, whether it's your tools, whether it's your walking surface, whether it's your gear, just makes everything exponentially worse."
During this weather, fire officials say it's a good time to make sure your smoke detectors are working and that you have an exit plan if a fire starts in your home.