Fire ravages westside apartment building

Home

Related Photos

This apartment building on West Washington Street burned over the weekend, displacing all of the residents and claiming the life of one child.
A memorial of well wishes dot the fence line near the burnt apartment building in homage to 7-year-old Dreydon Webb, who lost his life in the blaze.

Discussion

December 10, 2012

Fire ravages westside apartment building

Bart Doan The Hendricks County Flyer Mon Dec 10, 2012, 03:41 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS — A fire on the westside of Indianapolis claimed the life of a 7 year old boy and ravaged an apartment building early Saturday morning.

Authorities say about 16 people were in the small apartment building at 1833 W. Washington St. when the fire started at about 3:30 a.m. Most were asleep at the time.

Witnesses reported hearing the residents screaming for help and seeing some jump from the second story windows. One family reported tossed a baby from the second floor to someone on the ground.

Smoke and fire were so thick that Dreybon Webb’s mother was unable to get to him. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived ahead of firefighters and also attempted to rescue the boy, but were unsuccessful. By the time firefighters recovered him, it was too late.

Authorities say there were no working smoke detectors in the building.

Bryan Fleck of the Indy Fire Rescue House, which aids people affected by fire tragedies, said that should not happen.

“The thing that I’ve taken away from this, aside from the tragedy, is that there were no working smoke detectors in the area where the child died, and that’s unacceptable and we’ll be working forward to launch a fire safety campaign involving smoke detectors,” Fleck said.

IFRH leadership and volunteers are putting together an assistance fund for Dreybon’s family in hopes of offsetting some of the funeral costs.

Fleck said the IFRH started in September of 2011. A house was donated to the group and is currently housing a family that suffered from another recent apartment fire.

In regards to this past weekend’s fire, he said they’re trying to help as much as they can.

“We’ve had contact with two of the families,” Fleck said. “Sometimes when it happens in the middle of the night, people scatter, and it’s hard to even find the people that need help. Later (today) I’m getting some clothes and toiletries and general assistance items and I’m going to go by and drop them off by (another victim’s) work. And then we’re working with the family of the child who lost his life to make sure their child gets properly buried.”

He added that some of the displaced residents from the fire are staying at the IFRH shelter.

For more information or to donate, visit the website at www.indyfrh.org/donate.html.

The fire is still under investigation.

Text Only

Local News

Attorney John Bymaster (left) and Katheryn McCarty announced at a press conference Thursday their intent to sue the City of Indianapolis, the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, and sheriff’s van transport driver Deputy Erich Gephart after an accident in October 2012 claimed the life of Katheryn’s ex-husband Adam McCarty.

City named in wrongful death suit
A family here is suing the City of Indianapolis, the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, and Sheriff’s Van transport driver Deputy Erich Gephart after an accident in October 2012 claimed the life of Adam McCarty.

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
Colts P.R.I.D.E. invades Danville South
Danville South Elementary School was named the winner of the Colts P.R.I.D.E. contest, hosted by h.h. gregg, after submitting a video that showed the school representing their P.R.I.D.E. (Play 60, Respect, Intelligent Decisions, Diet, Education).

May 17, 2013 4 Photos
County to host final public meeting on proposed park
Hendricks County Parks & Recreation now has one draft master plan for its newest public park. And residents have one opportunity left to offer input before officials make it final.

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
Indiana seventh in dog bite insurance claims
Ranking first in dog bites is a title that no community strives to attain. To help reduce the number of dog bites across America, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is offering Indiana residents concrete ways to help reduce the number of dog bites in their community during National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

May 17, 2013
St. Susanna School earns Indiana Four Star status
PLAINFIELD — The staff and students at St. Susanna School were thrilled to find out they reached Indiana Four Star designation by the Indiana Department of Education. Hendricks County schools have been earning this status for some time and now St. Susanna has the same bragging rights.

May 17, 2013 2 Photos

Sports