COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) experienced intense flames when entering an Eastlake Woods apartment in Tipton Lakes on Saturday evening. All occupants had already escaped the smoke-filled building by the time fire crews arrived.
Firefighters were dispatched to 1250 Thornton Ct., at 8:30 p.m., after a report of a fire in an apartment. Upon arrival, they found thick smoke coming from the three-story apartment building. A CFD fire commander walked around the building and reported flames coming out of a second-floor apartment at the rear of the building.
The fire attack team advanced into the well-involved apartment to fight the blaze. Crews battled the flames for approximately 20 minutes before the fire was deemed under control.
A primary search of the building’s six residential units confirmed that all occupants were out of the structure. During the search, one pet cat was found dead.
With the fire under control, firefighters searched for any hidden fire in walls and ceilings. During that process, CFD found and extinguished an area of fire that had extended from the second to the third floor. After four hours of working at the scene, crews returned the building to the property owners.
As a result of the blaze, a total of nine units sustained damage. Three units suffered direct fire damage and six units had a combination of smoke and water damage.
The occupants of the nine damaged units are currently displaced and were offered assistance in securing any needed emergency housing, but they reportedly declined.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damage is expected to exceed $300,000 No injuries were reported.
