Two minors escape unharmed from Jasper apartment fire
Two minors were at home by themselves when a fire broke out in the kitchen of a unit at the Dubois Apartments on 43rd Street in Jasper this afternoon.
The 10- and 15-year-old both escaped unharmed from the fire in the upstairs downstairs apartment. leased to Megan Carter. According to Chief Kennie Hochgesang when the fire started the two left the apartment and went to their grandmother’s home in another building. Once they told their grandmother about the fire she contacted the Dubois County 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatch Center.
According to Chief Kenny Hochgesang, when firefighters arrived on scene they observed heavy smoke coming from the structure.
Four engines and 25 firefighters were on scene for about an hour. A major concern for fighting fires in the summer heat is heat exhaustion and stroke. The firefighters work in teams and switch out during the fight to hydrate. “In this case, the first team went in and knocked the fire down,” Hochgesang stated. “Some fresh firefighters then went in to check for hotspots and any other problems while the first team got water.”
The home is uninhabitable at this time with about $30,000 in fire, smoke and water damages.
Hochgesang stated the fire started on the kitchen floor and is still under investigation.
Jim O’Neil, WITZ News Director, contributed to this report.
I saw them from outside the complex yesterday and have to say I saw a Team of excellence and hard work. Seeing them yesterday while sad it happened lets me know how great of a team we have. I appreciate their hard work.
Okay it was the downstairs apartment! not upstairs in watch I live.. The 10 and 15 year old seen that they couldn’t control the fire they run out if the apartment. watch at this time 10 year old run to his grandma apartment ( that’s in the front if the complex ) the 15 year old stayed on the lawn watching the apartment burn. The only time 15 year old went back into the burning apartment fill if black smoke was to save her cat! There were two people and a child still in the apartment complex watch is now fill with black smoke! The grandma did call 911 got to the bruning apartment were she stayed on the lawn watching the bruning apartment!! The pregnant tenant and son live a cross from the bruning apartment didn’t even know the apartment was on fire. until her little boy seen black smoke coming in from under the door. The little boy told his mother in watch she take acts in getting her son to a safe place,then run back in to get the rest if the people!! Thank u to the pregnant tenant and her son and JASPER FIRE FIGHTERS!! Thank god for u!! Yes my walls are black from the smoke every smell like smoke we are alive thank u all!!