Fire crews were back at the same two vacant houses on Indianapolis’ near east side early Monday after yet another blaze on the block. The call came in around 4 a.m., and neighbors said it was the fourth time in 90 days firefighters have responded to those properties.
What crews found
The Indianapolis Fire Department said crews arrived to find a double-house fire and brought it under control in about 50 minutes. The south side of one of the homes had exterior damage, and no injuries were reported. Firefighters launched an aggressive attack to shield nearby occupied homes from the flames, according to WTHR.
Investigation underway
Fire investigators stayed on scene to look for a cause and said the origin of the blaze remains under investigation. As noted by the Indianapolis Fire Department, crews focused on stopping the fire from spreading to other structures while investigators worked the case.
Neighbors and a recurring problem
Residents told officials they often see vagrants and squatters going in and out of the vacant houses, and some neighbors said that activity has left the block open to repeat fires. Similar concerns were raised after an October 2025 near-east-side fire, when officials also cited squatting activity as a factor, as reported by WISH.
What investigators are asking
With the cause still unresolved, investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Indiana arson tip line at 1-800-382-4628, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. An initial account of the fire response is available from WTHR.
