Two Indianapolis firefighters were taken to Methodist Hospital early today after battling a massive apartment building fire that destroyed three vacant buildings, a loss estimated at $500,000.
The Indianapolis Fire Department was called to the Washington Arms Apartments, 1244 E. Washington St., about 11:45 p.m. Saturday, according to a release from IFD spokeswoman Rita Burris.
They found heavy smoke and fire at the back, or north building, immediately called in a second alarm and within minutes went into a "defensive" mode to try to simply contain the fire as it burned out.
About 80 firefighters and 35 pieces of equipment were on the scene.
One firefighter was taken to Methodist after having chest pains and the second to be treated for dehydration, Burris said.
The fire was brought under control about 1:45 a.m. today.
The buildings had been vacant since March 21, 2010, when another fire forced residents to move out.
Burris said an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer told firefighters the buildings might recently have been inhabited by squatters, but firefighters had not been able to conduct a search of the totaled buildings to determine whether anyone was inside at the time of the weekend blaze.
The Washington Arms Apartments includes about 24 apartments in three, two-story brick buildings interconnected by hallways.
Fire investigators believe the fire started in the North building and spread to the middle building through the interconnected hallways.
