April 16, 1982

Fire guts apartments

       Fire gutted sections of two apartment buildings Thursday afternoon at the Kings Mill Apartment complex on Fry Road, leaving scores of dwellers homeless and about 10 people injured.  Police and officials of the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department and State Fire Marshal’s office are still trying to determine the cause of the spectacular fire which spread quickly in Thursday’s windy conditions.  Dozens of firefighters from five departments and rescue workers from several ambulance companies were at the scene of the blaze, which was finally brought under control about 5:30 p.m.  One woman jumped from a third floor balcony to escape the blaze, injuring here back.  A Perry Township fireman was rushed to St. Francis Hospital Center, Beech Grove, after a wall collapsed on him while he was fighting the fire.

         A Greenwood fireman suffered a broken wrist, and several firefighters suffered slight burns or were overcome by smoke and heat.  Five fire companies responded to the blaze which was reported to Greenwood police at 2:59 p.m.  Heavy, black smoke billowing from the structure could be seen as far south as Franklin.  Firefighters said flames were through the roof when they arrived on the scene.  “It looked like the MGM with people jumping,” said Greenwood Police Detective Sgt. Robert Dine.  A woman on a third floor balcony climbed over the rail, lowered herself to a second floor balcony where some men grabbed her and lowered her to the ground.  Fire investigators said the fire started in the south end of the building, but they are unsure exactly where it started or what caused it.  “Right now, it appears it started inside,” said Indiana State Fire Marshal Bill Goodwin Thursday evening.  “We’re talking to people involved, and we got people digging it out.”

         Susan Frushon, 17, who called to report the fire then jumped from a balcony, said today from her hospital bed that she saw a small fire in a second floor storage area as she was arriving home sometime after 2:30 p.m.  Her husband, Ron Frushon Jr., said his wife told him she noticed the fire in the second floor storage area as she was walking to their third floor apartment.  He said she wasn’t concerned about it because there were two or three men standing near the storage room.  A few minutes later, the men ran out of the building, screaming about the fire, he said.  A police dispatcher said the call from a “hysterical female” came in at 2:59 p.m. Thursday.  Mrs. Frushon called the fire department, and tried to go out the apartment door.  When she opened the door, flames shot in and singed her hair, according to her husband.  She then went out on the balcony where three men urged her to jump.  When she leaped, the men stepped back, making no attempt to catch her or break her fall.  She suffered a broken vertebra and is in stable condition at St. Francis, he said.

         Investigators worked until dark trying to determine a cause of the blaze and returned to the gutted building this morning for more investigation.  Complex manager Frank Rosen said maintenance men going by the building smelled smoke and raced through the building notifying residents of the fire.  When flames reached the attic, winds blew it farther along the building.  A fire wall separating the north section of the building stopped the flames, and firefighters brought them under control.  A few minutes later, flames appeared out of the attic of another building attached at the corner to the building where the fire started.  Firefighters contained the fire to the top floor of the east section in the second building.  Investigators estimated about 40 apartments were gutted by flames or damaged by smoke and water.  A list of tenants in those apartments was not available today.  Perry Township firefighter Mike Ammerman, 18, suffered a shoulder injury when the wall collapsed on him.  He was treated and released Thursday evening at St. Francis.  Greenwood firefighter John Brinkman, 22, 34 Sayre Drive, broke his wrist when he was tripped by fire hoses being pulled towards the burning building.  Perry volunteer firefighters Ike Redman and Bill Banta were treated at the scene for burns and smoke inhalation.  Greenwood firefighters were assisted by units from White River Township, New Whiteland, Franklin and Perry Township fire companies.  Police officers from Greenwood, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police were on the scene to control the hundreds of people who flocked to the scene.

         Rosen said he was making arrangements for tenants whose apartments were destroyed or damaged to move into other apartments in the complex or at other Edward Rose properties.  “We’re trying to relocate those who desire relocation,” he said.  He declined to estimate how many people were left homeless by the blaze.  No damage estimate was available.  Investigators and apartment officials refused to allow many tenants to go back into their apartments to assess damages.  Officials at the Oriental Mission Society complex on Fry Road have offered to house fire victims until permanent arrangements can be made.  One worried resident was arrested Thursday when she tried to break a police line and drive into the complex.  Sherrie England, 20, 918 Kings Mill Road, was charged with disorderly conduct and was released from the Johnson County Jail after posting $150 bond.  Greenwood Lt. Willard Smith said he was directing traffic when Ms. England tried to drive past him into the complex parking lot.  He said cars were not allowed in the parking lot so firefighters could battle the blaze.  He said she was upset, and parked her car on the side of the road, obstructing traffic already backed up because of the fire.  Smith said traffic was backed up on Fry Road east to U.S. 31 and as far west as he could see.  Ms. England was arrested because she would not move the vehicle and because she was disorderly and shouted obscenities at police officers, Smith said.  Some residents returning from work and some bystanders parked in lots several blocks away from the complex and walked to the scene.  See related stories HERE and HERE.

 

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