A White River Township home sustained heavy damage after a Tuesday morning fire.
Submitted photo
A swift response from an off-duty Indianapolis Fire Department captain may have saved a life Tuesday in Johnson County.
White River Township Fire Department was dispatched at around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday for a residence fire near Carefree Court and Leisure Lane. This is near North Grove Elementary School.
“It was actually an incredible call,” said Jeremy Pell, fire chief. “There was an off-duty Indianapolis Fire Department captain who happened to be near the house. He actually made the save on a female resident.”
IFD Captain Mark Baranko, 43, was returning from a trip to the grocery store Tuesday morning when he noticed police activity near the Carefree Subdivision. He saw flames and decided to pull over and assess the situation, according to a news release.
The homeowner, a male occupant who was able to escape the house prior to the crew’s arrival, said that his wife was still inside. Baranko entered the residence to rescue the female occupant trapped on the second floor. After being faced with “forced to the floor” by black smoke, he located the woman in the doorway of a bedroom within one minute.
The woman, who was in and out of consciousness during the rescue, was transported alongside the male to Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis. The woman was in serious condition while the male was in stable condition, according to White River Township Fire.
The male and female are being assisted by family members and Fire Angels, the department said.
No other injuries were reported, including among the involved firefighters and off-duty captain. There was substantial damage to the home, however, with Pell estimating over $150,000 of damage to the approximately $300,000 home.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Pell said.
IFD Chief Ernest Malone is proud of Baranko’s efforts, he said in a news release.
“It is not every day that you are faced with a choice to risk your own life to save another and when faced with that choice today, Captain Baranko willingly took the risk,” Malone said. “Mark is a consummate professional who excels in his duties as both an officer, a leader and instructor. We are proud to have him as a member of our firefighting family. Our thoughts are with all those affected by today’s fire and hope that the woman makes a full recovery.”
Pell was also grateful for Baranko’s efforts, saying the outcome could have been different if he wasn’t in the area.
“Having worked with Captain Baranko in the past, I know firsthand that his decision to search the house is just one example of his commitment to serving others,” Pell said.
Pell hailed White River Township Fire’s quick response. Firefighters did a complete search of the home within seven minutes of arriving on scene, and the fire was brought under control within 15 minutes of the first 911 call, he said.
“That really is a testament to the support we have gotten from our board and elected officials,” Pell said. “And [also] how hard our crews have worked and what they have done with all of the amazing resources we have been blessed with.”
