INDIANAPOLIS — At least two people were injured, one seriously, after a fire broke out Thursday morning at a recycling plant on the east side of Indianapolis, according to the fire department.
Indianapolis Fire Department firefighters were called around 11:30 a.m. to the plant near North Sherman Drive and East 13th Street.
Firefighters arrived and found a man with serious injuries after he was near a machine when it caught on fire, IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith said. Another woman was taken to a local hospital to be checked out.
About 15 people were inside the building when the fire broke out, Reith said. No other serious injuries were reported.
The biggest obstacle for firefighters was the lack of access to get into the building, Reith said. Crews had to get water in through windows and doors.
They were also concerned about the stability of the building because there were cracks in some of the walls, Reith said. No one was inside the building when the second floor collapsed.
There were a lot of recyclables and Styrofoam inside the building.
A shelter in place was not issued because there weren't a lot of people in the area where the smoke was moving, Reith said. Crews contacted the few people in the area.
People in the building believe the fire may have been caused by an electrical issue, but the exact cause is still under investigation.
