INDIANAPOLIS — Two Indianapolis firefighters are recovering after battling a fire on the near east side Tuesday morning.
It happened inside a vacant home along Rural Street between Washington and New York Streets around 3:30 a.m.
Within a few minutes of firefighters reaching the second floor, a firefighter fell through the floor. The firefighter was able to walk out of the building without help and was taken to Methodist Hospital with minor injuries. Another firefighter also suffered a minor injury.
“A very disconcerting moment for firefighters on the scene because when you hear that come over the radio, it grabs your attention like nothing else,” said IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith.
One family on Rural Street said the house has been vacant for at least a year, adding they were always concerned it would catch on fire.
“A lot of squatters are coming in and they just make themselves at home,” said the neighbor, who preferred to remain anonymous for safety concerns. “We are finding feces outside and on our property along with garbage. We can sometimes hear what they are up to at night. It is unsettling.”
The family said they have filed a report with the city earlier this last year but said not much has been done to secure the property.
“It’s a little infuriating that whoever owned this house didn’t care to properly secure it so that everyone else around it is safe,” said the neighbor.
IFD said it’s not unusual to see an uptick in calls to vacant buildings as the weather gets colder. So far this year, the department has responded to more than 70 fires in vacant or abandoned structures. That’s compared to 80 in 2022.
The department works closely with Business and Neighborhood Services, the Department of Public Works and the Marion County Health Department to help identify challenges with vacant and abandoned structures along with property cleanup.
As of Nov. 21, the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services currently has 341 demolition cases open, 1,562 repair cases and 238 vacant board order cases.
Since 2017, DBNS has demolished roughly 375 structures and 29 are already contracted for demolition in early 2024. Additional 2024 demolition bid packages will be evaluated throughout the year as cases become eligible and as the budget allows.
IFD said neighbors with concerns can always call the Arson Hotline at 1-800-382-4628 or the IFD/IMPD Fire Investigations Office at 317-327-6700.
The city said residents should also report unsafe conditions at vacant structures to the Mayor's Action Center using RequestIndy, available online.
DBNS will investigate the property and determine whether a vacant board order, a repair order or a demolition order is warranted. If the property is occupied, they should call the Marion County Health Department/Health and Hospital Corporation at 317-221-2150.