IN: Pit bulls helped family escape blaze

Investigators believe someone intentionally set fire to a vacant residence, which traveled to a home next door


A fire that investigators say was intentionally ignited at a vacant Near-Northside residence spread to a neighboring home where a family of six, including four children, slept, fire officials said.

But the family's two pit bulls, Molly and Sir, awoke the family with barks, and the family and dogs escaped safely early Friday morning.



Firefighters were called to the 1000 block of Udell Street around 4:22 a.m., where flames and smoke could be seen for six blocks, according to an Indianapolis Fire Department press release.

A vacant home was ablaze, and the fire crept over to a home next door, fire officials said. Both fires were under control in about 30 minutes, but caused almost $100,000 in damages.

The vacant home sustained about $75,000 in damages, and the family's home, $20,000.

Investigators ruled the fire arson and are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect.

Witnesses told police they saw someone enter and leave the vacant home before it became engulfed in flames.

Investigators believe the fire may be connected to another nearby fire earlier Friday morning. Firefighters extinguished a small garage fire around 2:50 a.m. in the 1100 block of Eugene Street, just blocks away.

Anyone with information about the fires can contact police by texting "INDYCS" and the tip to 274637, visiting CrimeTips.org or calling (317) 262-8477.




Madeline Buckley,10:50 a.m. EDT May 8, 2015
Pit bulls helped family escape blaze