Hartford City fire sends 6 to hospital

HARTFORD CITY – A Tuesday night fire in a downtown apartment building sent several people to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Hartford City Fire Chief Ron Parrott said firefighters were called to the building, a former movie theater at 118 E. Main St., about 9:30 p.m.

The fire had broken out in the kitchen of an upstairs apartment. Damage from flames was limited to that apartment, with water damage to both that home and an apartment below it.

There was more widespread smoke damage, the chief said.

Parrott said alarms in the building sounded, but five residents didn’t immediately leave the building. Firefighters did “a fantastic job” in leading those people to safety, he said.

“If an alarm sounds, please heed those warnings,” the chief added.

Parrott said he believed six people had been taken to IU Health Blackford Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The American Red Cross was called to the scene to help those displaced by the fire find overnight lodging.

Twenty firefighters helped battle Tuesday night’s blaze, according to Parrott. They left the scene about midnight.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.