Merrillville apartment complex fire displaces 34 families

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A fire chief says 34 families have been displaced by a fire at an apartment complex in northwest Indiana.

Merrillville Fire Chief Ed Yerga says firefighters rescued three members of a family from a third-floor balcony but no serious injuries were reported in the blaze at The Lakes at 8201 apartment complex along U.S. 30.

The (Munster) Times reports (http://bit.ly/1RUWfGE ) firefighters were dispatched shortly after 9 a.m. CDT Monday and found heavy fire on a third-floor balcony and flames through the roof of the adjacent apartment. Yerga says he's unaware of anyone being at home in that unit.

Yerga says all of the displaced families had units in the same building.

The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com