Fatal fire at Brazil apartment complex

Emergency responders from several agencies responded to the report of a fire on the fourth floor of the south side of Meridian Towers apartment complex in Brazil. One person died and two people were injured in the Tuesday fire.

Courtesy photo/BRAZIL TIMES

BRAZIL -- One person is dead and two people were treated for injuries as the result of a fire Tuesday on the fourth floor of Meridian Towers in Brazil.

Identification of the victim has not been made public. Cause of the fire also has not been released.

Heavy black smoke was billowing out the windows of the fourth floor when firefighters arrived on the scene about 12:30 p.m. The Brazil Fire Department ladder truck was used by firefighters to assist in helping one person out of the building, while officers from the Brazil Police Department, Clay County Sheriff's Department and the Knightsville Town Marshal helped evacuate other residents.

Off-duty Brazil firefighters also rushed to the scene, and used the ladder truck to help evacuate two male residents and a dog from a window.

Bennett said that assistance was offered by other fire agencies in the area, but local firefighters were able to quickly get the fire under control.

Officers and firefighters also assisted members of the Brazil Housing Authority, managers of the apartment complex, who were attempting to locate the approximately 60 residents living in the building. Many of the residents went across the street to Cooper Towers and stayed in the community room there, while others went home with relatives and friends.

Brazil Fire Chief Jake Bennett said the quick response helped to avert a worse tragedy.

"They really did an awesome job, everyone did," Bennett said. "Within a few minutes my firefighters were inside knocking down the fire on the fourth floor, and members of the city police and the county sheriff's department were helping to evacuate residents throughout the building."

The area around and the Meridian Towers complex will remain closed to the public because of the investigation by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's State Fire Marshal Office.

A fire restoration service has begun the clean-up effort which will allow the residents to return to the building, Bennett said.

While the name of the victim who died in the fire has not been released, Clay County Coroner Nick French has confirmed Dr. Roland Kohr will be performing an autopsy. However, no further information is being provided at this time.