Several departments respond to Merrillville complex fire

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- Several northwest Indiana fire departments battled an apartment complex fire Monday afternoon in Merrillville, Ind.

Firefighters from Merrillville, Gary, Crown Point, Hobart, Griffith, Schererville and Lake Ridge responded to the blaze at The Lakes at 8201 apartment complex along U.S. 30.

Resident Tonda Hayes told The (Munster) Times that notes had been placed on tenants' doors saying the complex would be testing the alarm and sprinkler system between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday, so when the alarms started going off about 9:10 a.m., she assumed it was the test. However, her 15-year-old son went outside and saw the fire, so her husband started banging on neighbors' doors to alert them.

There was no immediate word of injuries.