By DAWN WILLIAMS
Noble Manor resident
Storms that rolled through Hamilton County Thursday evening kept local fire departments busy, within 45 minutes of each other, the Noblesville Fire Department battled two working apartment fires. The first fire occurred in the Noble Manor apartment complex and the second fire occurred in the Millstone of Noblesville apartment complex. Fire investigators indicated both fires were caused by lightning strikes.
Noblesville Fire Department was assisted by Carmel, Fishers, Westfield and Indianapolis fire departments.
The weather has wreaked havoc on us this week but Thursday night was scary. I was sitting in the living room when lightning struck, CLOSE! The sound was horrific, and was followed by an immediate huge clap of thunder.
A few minutes later I smelled smoke, and it kept getting stronger. I even walked out back to make sure the roof of my building wasn’t on fire. I was going to check out front and my neighbor, Peggy Cox, was coming out of her door at the same time. We went out front, smelled smoke but saw nothing. The wind shifted and we saw the smoke and took off running. The building next to ours was on fire from the lightning.
Richie Rivera pulled up as we were running over. I’m not sure if his vehicle was stopped completely when he jumped out and joined Peggy and I! The three of us, along with three other people went door to door trying to evacuate the residents of the building.
The building hit was in the retirement section. Some walked out on their own, we pushed a few out in wheelchairs and even ran back and got two cats out. The first Battalion chief was on the scene as I was hanging up with 911, followed quickly by four fire trucks from the Noblesville Fire Department.
We had everyone out and the firefighters went right to work, assisting a couple of the residents that were having problems breathing, transporting one to the hospital and tackling the building full force. It was contained to one apartment but could have been so much worse.
The firefighters stayed until the last bit of smoke was gone and assisted residents that could stay back into their apartments. One very sweet paramedic was concerned about the tenant who couldn’t go back home and made sure she had a place to go, even adding, “If not, you will be staying at the firehouse tonight.” I wish I had his name because I know that made her feel so good after watching her apartment on fire.
I have to say, I have amazing neighbors. We all banded together to get everyone out safely and we live in a city that has a great fire department. Amy Zook Lutz, thank you and all of the rest of the firefighters, paramedics and police officers for what you guys do for our community!
Noblesville firefighters help a Noble Manor resident after lightning caused a fire at the apartment complex Thursday evening. (Dawn Williams)
Noblesville firefighters quickly worked to put out a fire at the Noble Manor apartment complex Thursday evening. The fire was one of two blazes caused by lightning strikes associated with thunderstorms that evening.
Thank you for printing this! Cicero Fire Department was also on the scene at the Noble Manor fire.