Fort Wayne, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Fort Wayne Firefighters are battling with three house fires near the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Sturgis Street.
Fire crews responded to a house fire at 611 Sturgis St. just after 7:30 Thursday night. When firefighters arrived three minutes later, two houses were up in flames with heavy smoke. The fire then spread to a third house, due to wind and the dry weather conditions. Crews called for back-up and are having a difficult time containing the flames. Powerlines around the houses collapsed and power is temporarily shut off in the neighborhood.
At one point, firefighters were ordered to evacuate due to a "flash over," when air particles, dust, and heat combine and burst into flames. Stacey Fleming, Public Information Officer with the Fort Wayne Fire Department, says it's a highly dangerous situation and firefighters only have seven to 10 seconds to reach safety.
Fleming says approximately 60 fire crews were on the scene and will be working well into Friday morning.
A witness who called 911 said he heard lots of popping and cracking noises, sounding like fireworks, right before flames broke out. FWFD cannot confirm that is what caused the fire.
No one was hurt or injured in the fire, although a witness says a dog did not make it out of one of the fire alive. FWFD could not confirm that either. Two firefighters were treated and released at the scene. Rehab centers with water and cold cloths were set up at the scene, and EMS crews were available to assist and check the firefighters' vital signs. Due to the record high temperature Thursday, fire stations and crews from around the city took turns battling the fire.
We'll have more information as details are released.
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