Indy Family Seriously Injured in House Fire

March 13, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS -- Six people were seriously injured after an early-morning house fire Saturday in the 600 block of Rybolt Avenue. Firefighters said the fire was so intense, several of the victims escaped the flames by jumping out of a second-story window, 6News' Myrt Price reported.

INDIANAPOLIS --

Six people were seriously injured after an early-morning house fire Saturday in the 600 block of Rybolt Avenue.

Firefighters said the fire was so intense, several of the victims escaped the flames by jumping out of a second-story window, 6News' Myrt Price reported.

"My wife looked out and saw the flames and then she stuck her head back into the window and said, 'Hurry up and get dressed because there's a fire down there and people are lying on the ground and jumping out of the windows'", neighbor Daniel Vanarsdale said.

"The north side of the house was engulfed in flames; flames were rolling out all the windows," one neighbor said.

Wayne Township Firefighters said they got the call shortly before 8 a.m. When they arrived, they found seven victims on the ground in front of the house.

"When we pulled out of the firehouse, we could see the black smoke in the air", said Lt. Troy Wymer.

Neighbors said the family was inside asleep when the fire broke out, and fortunately their smoke detector alerted them to the danger.

One neighbor, who didn't want to be identified, said his wife actually ran outside and helped as the family was jumping out of the window.

"It was their only means of getting out of the house; they didn't have any other choice," he said. "My wife caught the little boy, somebody dropped him out of the window and my wife caught him. I'm just grateful everybody made it out OK especially the kids."

"Very easily this could have resulted in multiple fatalities of both children and adults, easily," Wymer said.

Neighbors said one of the children was injured while jumping out of the window.

At last check, three of the adults and one of the children were hospitalized in serious condition. The other two children were treated and released.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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