Two Indianapolis firefighters sustained injuries when their heroic efforts were met with a collapsing ceiling as they battled a house fire in the southeast side's Acton neighborhood. One of the members from the first-response team was left with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while his colleague walked away with minor damages. The Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) was alerted to the emergency shortly after 1 a.m. at a residence on the 8200 block of Retreat Lane, as WISH-TV reported.

The incident took an even more precarious turn when the ceiling caved in, completely trapping the firemen amongst the blaze. After the collapse, the trapped firefighters quickly declared a "mayday," a distress signal indicating immediate assistance was necessary. Within a peril-strewn minute, they managed to self-extricate from the debris, according to a FOX59 report. Both injured parties were promptly transported to Eskenazi Hospital for evaluation and treatment.

While escaping the fire, residents of the home have their four-legged family member to thank for the alert. A 4-year-old dog named Rockne is credited with waking the household, with its barking signaling the hidden danger outside. The canine noticed the flames at the back of the house and successfully got the attention of the sleeping family. This early warning allowed the two adults, two children, and their pets to evacuate unharmed, as was detailed by a WTHR statement.

Although the home had working smoke alarms, they did not activate because the fire started outside, likely due to improperly discarded smoking materials. The blaze not only destroyed the family’s home but also damaged nearby residences, prompting additional evacuations. The Indianapolis Fire Department’s Victims Assistance unit is providing support to those displaced by the overnight fire. An investigation is ongoing to determine the precise cause of the fire.