On December 2, 2023, the Greenville Township Fire Protection District was dispatched to 8200 Pete Reisert Rd in Floyd County, Indiana, for a reported house on fire. The sole occupant of the home had escaped the fire by jumping from a second-story balcony and walking over 500 feet to a neighbor’s house while suffering injuries from the fall. They had the neighbor call 911. At 4:28 AM, a Box Alarm was transmitted. Apparatus and personnel from Greenville, Lafayette, Georgetown Township Fire Protection Districts from Floyd County, Palmyra Fire Department from Harrison County, and an EMS unit from New Chapel EMS were all dispatched simultaneously for the fire.
Engine 31 from Greenville Township Fire Protection District was the first apparatus on the scene twelve minutes after the first 911 call. The crew reported smoke coming from the home’s eaves, and upon forcing entry to the front door, they conducted a quick search for victims. They found a dog and cat near the entryway but no other persons. The crew then discovered the fire on the first floor in the back and extinguished it enough to continue to search for other victims in the house. There were no other victims found, and it was confirmed that the sole occupant had already escaped.
The fire was controlled after thirty minutes of the first 911 call. Still, firefighters faced obstacles due to the abundance of belongings in the home that hindered the ability to extinguish the fire. Unfortunately, the dog and cat did not survive, but the sole occupant and one firefighter who suffered injuries were transported to the hospital. Thankfully, none of the injuries were life-threatening, and the firefighter was released from the hospital later that day. There were no updates on the occupant or the extent of their injuries.
The Salvation Army was also called to assist the family if needed and assist with firefighter rehabilitation. Additionally, Harrison County Hospital EMS was called to the scene to transport the injured firefighter to the hospital.
Firefighters were able to leave the scene around 8 AM.
