Cause determined in apt. building fire

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- Crews with the Fort Wayne Fire Department (FWFD) said unattended food on a stove was the cause of an apartment fire in the 1900 block of Fox Point Trail that sent a man to the hospital in critical condition.

Crews were dispatched around 5:33 Thursday morning and first saw smoke coming from the apartment complex's roof; that building has about sixteen apartments inside, according to O'Connor.

FWFD Assistant Chief of Operations Adam O'Connor said when firefighters got inside the apartment they crawled under smoke and flames to the back bedroom and found the man. They were able to quickly get him out of the apartment.

Officials on scene told NewsChannel 15 he was in critical condition and was taken to a Fort Wayne hospital. The extent of his injuries were not known, but he has since been upgraded to serious condition.

Officials said they were able to contain the fire to that one apartment within the building. Everyone inside was evacuated and officials said half of the residents will be able to return to their homes, while the other half may have to wait. The Red Cross will assist displaced residents until they can return to their apartments.

Fort Wayne Police Department homicide detectives were called to the scene for investigation in case the cause of the fire ends up to be criminal in nature.  FWFD said this is standard procedure in any critical injury incident.

No firefighters were injured while fighting the fire.