Officers rescue seven from burning downtown home

Bartholomew County deputies and Columbus police rescued seven people from a home fire on Union Street Saturday.

According to reports from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, deputies and officers were in downtown Columbus working on an investigation, when a woman told deputies that her neighbor’s house might be on fire. She said a smoke alarm had been going off and she believed that people were still inside.

Deputies went to the home in the 800 block of Union Street and found smoke coming from inside. They tried to alert the residents, but no one opened the door. Deputies broke in and found a man who appeared confused and who wasn’t able to get out on his own. The deputies pulled him from the home. He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Columbus police used a fire extinguisher to put out a small kitchen fire.

More officers arrived on the scene and evacuated six people from the rear of the home.

Columbus firefighters finished extinguishing the fire and ventilated the smoke from the building.

Sheriff Matt Myers praised the deputies, saying this is “an example of the pinnacle of public service, courageous action that ends up saving someone’s life.”