Residents watch as flames rise from a burning apartment building at Buffalo Creek Apartments on the southside of Indianapolis.
Photo provided by Indianapolis Fire Department
More than a dozen people were displaced and four were injured in a Monday afternoon fire at a southside Indianapolis apartment complex.
Indianapolis firefighters were called to 624 Buffalo Club Drive, inside Buffalo Creek Apartments, at 12:19 p.m. after multiple calls were received about a fire. Buffalo Creek Apartments is located directly across from Greenwood’s Rosengarten subdivision, on County Line Road.
The fire was in a two-story structure, with heavy black smoke and fire visible from two floors, according to an Indianapolis Fire Department news release. There were also working smoke alarms in the building.
Sixteen Indianapolis Fire units were dispatched to the complex, with the first unit arriving on the scene at 12:23 p.m. About 10 minutes later, at 12:34 p.m., it was reported that the building’s roof had partially collapsed, fire officials said.
The building was confirmed as clear at 12:50 p.m., and the fire was marked under control at 1:04 p.m.
All occupants that were home when the fire broke out evacuated prior to firefighters arriving. Several pets were rescued by IFD during the fire and returned to occupants in OK condition, according to the news release.
Two Indianapolis firefighters sustained “slight” injuries — one heat-related and one from ceiling debris — during the incident. They were both transported by Indianapolis EMS to IU Health Methodist Hospital, fire officials said.
Two apartment occupants also received “slight” injuries. One was checked out by medics on scene and released while the other was transported to Community Hospital South, according to the news release.
Twelve units were affected and 18 occupants were displaced by the fire. IFD Victims Assistance is working with the Red Cross and apartment complex management on shelter for those displaced, with fire officials saying that the apartment complex said there are other available units for occupants to reside in.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by IFD and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
