Dozens stood and watched helplessly as a raging inferno destroyed their homes and belongings Saturday at Thomas Apartments in downtown Muncie.
Captain Paul Sykes of the Muncie Fire Department said when firefighters arrived at the scene, at least three people were hanging out of third story windows screaming for help. Firefighters had several problems with decades-old equipment that forced them to use unstable 35-foot ladders to rescue those clinging to life in the blaze.
"If we had to go any higher at this building we wouldn't have been able to save those people," Sykes said. "Next time somebody may not be so lucky."
Sykes said the fire sent multiple people to the hospital after minor smoke inhalation but didn't seriously injure or kill anyone. One firefighter went to the hospital for exhaustion but later returned to the scene, he said.
"Our Muncie firefighters did a good job working with the situation they had before them," Sykes said.
He said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but they believe the fire started in the rear of the building.
Firefighters gained control of the blaze by 7 a.m. Sunday, Sykes said, but workers will continue to attend to the scene through this morning until they can extinguish all the hot spots.
The building was a "complete loss," he said, and the high-pressure water from the fire hose caused the only damage to surrounding buildings when it ripped shingles off their roofs.
Despite sparing surrounding buildings, the fire managed to displace surrounding residents.
Sykes said Thomas Apartments was at risk for collapsing. It will be imploded to avoid damaging other buildings after the cause of the fire is determined and insurance companies finish examining the rubble, he said.
Battalion Chief Brian Manship of the Muncie Fire Department said the fire started at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday. Twenty-nine firefighters from five stations around Delaware County battled the blaze from all four sides of the building. The number of people helping was normal for the size of the building and the fire, Manship said.
Kenton Bennett lived on the second floor with his wife and his grandson. He said he and his family weren't home when the fire started but returned when his mother told him his building was burning.
"We've been here three days and lost everything," he said. "... It's hard; you work all your life to build something, then it's gone."
Bennett said it was a blessing that none of his grandchildren were in the building. He said he couldn't replace what his family lost but could work to make the best of the situation.
Mark Slusher, director of communication and disaster services for the Hoosier Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross, said he and volunteers arrived at the scene at 8 p.m. Saturday. They provided water and food for the emergency workers.
He said the Red Cross opened a shelter for the displaced residents and connected them with case workers and mental health specialists. Its office on Washington Street will house as many as it can, and the rest will be placed in churches and gyms that have agreements with the Red Cross. The case workers will help with the long-term issues such as finding places to live and dealing with insurance companies, and the mental health specialists will help the displaced relieve stress, he said.
The Hoosier Heartland Chapter of the Red Cross is accepting donations for the victims, Slusher said. Monetary donations would the best way to help, he said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
