IN Apartment Fire Injures Police Officers

Two police officers were injured while rescuing people trapped in an apartment fire in Crown Point that critically injured two residents.

At 5:57 a.m. Saturday, emergency responders were called to the apartment building at the 400 block of east North Street, according to Crown Point Fire Department Chief Dave Crane.

Cpl. Robert Ballas was burned on his hand and Officer Michael Stalnaker injured his ankle after the two entered the building to warn residents, Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said. The officers were later treated and released from a local area hospital, Crane said.

Firefighters rescued two victims, a husband and wife, while a third made it out on their own. The couple are both in serious condition, Crane said, and were transported by ambulance to a hospital in Chicago.

The third was treated at a local hospital and released, Crane said.

"This situation is one that could have very easily had a much more tragic outcome," Land said. "The quick actions by the fire department and our officers definitely reduced the amount of destruction this fire caused. We are very hopeful the residents who suffered injuries make a full recovery."

The fire was at the structure's south end and took 40 minutes to extinguish. The apartment was a former church that had been converted into an eight-unit apartment complex with two stories and a basement.

Crane estimates the damage to the building at about $100,000.

The building was originally constructed in 1887 as a 40 by 60 foot brick structure by Trinity Lutheran Church. It was dedicated May 2, 1887. In 1985 the old school and church were sold and converted into apartments.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Indiana State Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Crown Point, Cedar Lake, Lakes of the Four Seasons, Merrillville and Schererville fire departments and Crown Point police responded to the scene.

Times correspondent Diane Poulton contributed to this story.

Check back at nwi.com for updates as they become available.

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