Indy Firefighter Burned by Steam While Rescuing Woman

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis firefighters pulled a woman from her burning home on the city's northeast side early Thursday morning. IFD Capt. Rita Reith said Polly Lay, 51, awoke to the sound of smoke detectors at about 4 a.m. at her home in the 6200 block of North Chester Avenue. Lay was able to make it out to her balcony, where she was rescued by firefighters. One firefighter was injured and was taken to Methodist Hospital with steam burns to his legs, Reith said.

Oct. 1, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS --

Indianapolis firefighters pulled a woman from her burning home on the city's northeast side early Thursday morning.

IFD Capt. Rita Reith said Polly Lay, 51, awoke to the sound of smoke detectors at about 4 a.m. at her home in the 6200 block of North Chester Avenue.

Lay was able to make it out to her balcony, where she was rescued by firefighters.

One firefighter was injured and was taken to Methodist Hospital with steam burns to his legs, Reith said.

Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control within 20 minutes, but about $240,000 in damage was done to the home.

Lay told fire officials that she had been doing some rewiring work to her home and had recently purchased new smoke detectors, which she thinks saved her life.

Firefighters also battled an unrelated blaze in the Frog Holler neighborhood on the city's southwest side Thursday morning.

It was the second vacant house fire in that area within a week.