SHAWNEE COUNTY—Eight people in two separate homes escaped safely after a fire early Monday in Topeka. One was later taken to the hospital.
Just before 2a.m. fire crews responded to a house fire at 218 SW Topeka Blvd. in Topeka, according to Public Education Officer Alan Stahl.
As they arrived, fire crews found fire coming from the first and second story of the home. Due to the amount of fire and the building condition, fire crews made a defensive fire attack and did not enter the building to fight the fire.
Three occupants inside the house at the time of the fire were all able to escape prior to the fire department’s arrival. American Medical Response transported one occupant to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
A second alarm was requested by the incident commander as heat from the fire caused damage to the neighboring house, and all five occupants were able to escape.
A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as Accidental, associated with electrical system problems, according to Stahl. The estimated dollar loss – $14,100; $8,600 is associated with a total structural damage loss to the building of origin, $5,000 is associated with contents loss from the building of origin, and $500 structural loss from heat exposure to the neighboring home.
Three cats, one dog, and one bird were unaccounted for from the house where the fire started. No smoke detectors were located within either home, according to Stahl.