2 suffer smoke inhalation in Merrillville apartment fire

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Updated: February 20, 2012 10:42PM

Two people were hospitalized after an electrical fire broke out Sunday afternoon at a Merrillville apartment complex.

Merrillville Fire Department fire marshal Phil Topor said a faulty electrical outlet in a bedroom sparked the fire at Cloisters Apartments, located at 320 W. 59th Ave., around 3 p.m. It took about 90 minutes to quell the blaze.

Topor said that six people were rescued from the building, which contained 12 apartments — 11 of which are occupied. Firefighters used ladders to rescue residents via their balconies. A firefighter and a resident had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire was contained to the first-floor apartment where it orginated, but all of the other residents have been displaced due to smoke damage. Topor said that apartment management staffers are trying to relocate residents to vacant apartments or find alternate shelter through the Red Cross.