Associated Press
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press
 Photo by Tod Parker/ Phototac.com Responders work to quell a fire that erupted at an ambulance warehouse Wednesday in Ind. A nearby charter school had to be evacuated. |
INDIANAPOLIS — A warehouse fire fanned by winds gusting above 20 mph carried billows of smoke into a nearby school, sending as many as 20 students to hospitals, Wednesday.
The smoke caused breathing problems among some students.
None of the injuries was believed to be serious, authorities said.
Students and teachers at the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, a charter school with 325 students in grades 6-12, were evacuated to a family center at a nearby park.
The fire began about 10 a.m. and spread quickly through a warehouse used by the
Marion County Health and Hospital Corp. to repair ambulances and store paper, computers and medical supplies.
The north side warehouse is located about a mile east of the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
“Our staff was able to get out and evacuate safely,” said John Althardt, a spokesman for the health department.
“At this point we have no idea what may have caused this fire.”
Tanks containing oxygen and propane exploded in the warehouse during the fire.