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The Indianapolis Fire Department responded to a fire after lightning struck a building and caused 16 apartment units to catch fire early Saturday.
Submitted: Indianapolis Fire DepartmentMore than 16 living quarters in Central Indiana have been damaged after lightning struck an apartment complex and a house, then caused fires early Saturday morning.
The bulk of the fires took place at 3200 Cold Spring Rd, on the northwest side of Indianapolis, near Marian University. In a tweet, the Indianapolis Fire Department said the fire began in the attic of an apartment complex, leaving six units heavily impacted by fire damages. Ten other units were affected by smoke and water.
Four Marian University students are among the several who have been displaced. The Indianapolis Fire Department said apartment management will work to relocate them.
According to IFD’s twitter account, firefighters controlled the flames in 45 minutes, but two firefighters sustained minor injuries — one from the heat and another from ceiling debris.
The Brownsburg Fire Territory also responded to a house fire that is believed to have started because of a lightning strike.
The fire department encourages people to test their smoke alarms to make sure everyone is promptly aware when a fire begins.
Contact WFYI education reporter Elizabeth Gabriel at egabriel@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @_elizabethgabs.
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