FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Nearly 20 people in Fort Wayne are looking for a new place to stay after a fire at a local apartment complex.
The fire broke out about 7 p.m. Wednesday night at Lake and Hobson.
Flames were pouring out of a back window when firefighters arrived. Crews say no one was hurt, but 17 people who live at the apartment building lost their homes. Firefighters say that includes eight adults and nine children.
It is still unclear how the fire started.
Fort Wayne Fire Department officials released the following:
FWFD units dispatched for a reported apartment building on fire in the area of Lake & Hobson. First crews arrived on scene finding a two-story apartment building with heavy fire engulfing two separate apartments first and second floors, and extending to the neighboring apartments. Fire was upgraded to a 705 alarm bringing in an extra fire engine, along with the 6 other apparatus responding. Crews pulled multiple hose lines and made entry into both apartments fighting the fire from the interior and exterior. Other crews made entry inside neighboring apartments stopping any extending fire from spreading to the rest of the building. All occupants either escaped or were not home at the time of the fire. A total of 17 occupants were displaced due to the damage. No injuries were reported. Investigators are still working the scene attempting to figure out the cause. AEP, NIPSCO, FWPD, TRAA, Neighborhood Code Enforcement, and Allen County Building Department all assisted on scene.