INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A dog is dead after fire destroyed a woman’s south side apartment late Tuesday. Fire crews found 15 foot flames shooting from a unit at the Berkley Commons Apartments when they arrived just after 11 p.m.
That unit is in the 2600 block of Larman Drive, near Stop 11 Road and Madison Avenue.
Neighbors called 911 after hearing a popping sound, then seeing smoke rising from the apartment building. Fire crews searched the unit upon their arrival, but found no one inside.
Complex management later determined the woman who lives there was not home at the time, and were attempting to contact her early Wednesday morning. Neighbors told 24 Hour News 8 that the woman had just moved in to the apartment two weeks ago.
Firefighters did find her boxer breed dog overcome by smoke inside the apartment.
“I ran out, and ran over to the lady’s door and pounded on it to try to get the lady out if she was home. Then, I heard the dog, and I tried to kick in the door. I couldn’t kick in the door, so I busted open the front window, hoping the dog would jump out. And, then after that it was just flames everywhere,” said Brittney Thacker, who lives next door to the damaged apartment.
“We have a boxer too–same color, same size and everything. So, it hit home to see them bring him out and lay him across the sidewalk,” added Angel Allen, who also lives next door.
Crews quickly contained the fire and had it under control in about 15 minutes. Adjacent apartments have minor smoke damage as well.
“There are firewalls in here that do help compartmentalize the fire a little better, and it slows it down quite a bit,” said IFD Battallion Chief Mark Culver. “It looks like it orginated maybe in the kitchen area, and there’s heavy damage to the dining room area as well. We’re sending investigators in to try and determine a cause.”
Originally reported by WISH-TV News. Read the original article here.