1 dead after apartment fire on south side of Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — A person died during an apartment fire on the south side of Indianapolis early Sunday afternoon.

According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the Crestwood Village Apartments — which are located in the 8800 block of South Madison Avenue — around 12:46 p.m. When crews arrived around 12:53 p.m., they noted that there were not any visible flames coming from building.

Upon further investigation, IFD determined one of the building’s managers forced entry into an apartment after hearing a smoke alarm activate. Per IFD, the manager called out to the resident who was living in the unit the fire broke out in before entering.

When the manager got into the unit, she discovered a 67-year-old male who was unresponsive.

The manager and another apartment complex employee used a small extinguisher to put the fire out. IFD reported that the fire was small, contained to one unit’s living room and did not affect any other residents or apartments.

According to IFD, the man found unresponsive in the unit was ultimately pronounced dead. Investigators believe improper use of smoking materials caused the fire.

Sunday’s incident marks the fifth fatal fire IFD has responded to in 2024.

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