Large brush fire in west Lawrence

Posted: July 5, 2012 - 12:45pm
Updated: July 6, 2012 - 3:40am

Photo by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical was dispatched to a grass fire in the 6000 block of Bob Billings Parkway and George Williams Way at 10:20 a.m.. A media release says that due to extremely dry conditions, wind gusts and an abundance of dry vegetation, the fire began to spread rapidly to the northeast potentially affecting several homes along Palisades Street and Langston Hughes Elementary School. The incident was upgraded to a structure fire with mutual aid requests from numerous neighboring departments.

Mutual aid was received from; Eudora Township, Wakarusa Township, Lecompton Township, Willow Springs Township, and Kanwaka Township.

In addition to the Douglas County departments, mutual aid was also requested from several Johnson County departments which included; Olathe, Lenexa, Overland Park, and Shawnee Fire Departments. Johnson County Med-Act also assisted with emergency medical coverage.

Photo courtesy of Frozen Pixel Studios

Numerous homes in the 6200 block of Palisades street were evacuated until the fire could be contained. All residents were allowed back into their homes by 12:30 p.m..

No injuries were reported to Fire Department personnel and the American Red Cross provided rehydration assistance to multiple responding agencies.

Investigators say the fire was sparked after a squirrel came into contact with overhead electrical power lines, causing a spark which ignited the vegetation beneath the line.

Photo courtesy of Frozen Pixel Studios

Officials say there is not a dollar loss associated with the vegetation burned, however minor damages are being assessed of the houses that were adjacent to the burned area.

Additional information and photos from Operation 100 News reporting partners at the Lawrence Journal-World.

Two alarm Olathe house fire

Posted: December 31, 2011 - 3:42pm
Updated: December 31, 2011 - 8:27pm

Around 3:00 p.m., Saturday, the Olathe Fire Department was called to a house in the 1400 block of E Cambridge Street after the resident reported flames from the furnace vent on the first floor.

Fire crews arrived on scene about two minutes after being dispatched. First arriving crews reported smoke showing from the eaves of the house. A short time later, crews reported a fire in the basement.

A second alarm assignment was dispatched at 3:15 p.m., by request of the Battalion Chief on the scene. Interior crews reported a "weak floor" in the rear of the structure. Incident Command was able to report the fire as under control about 25 minutes after the first crews arrived. The Lenexa Fire Department also assisted in battling the blaze.

The house was evacuated when the Fire Department arrived and no injuries were reported. An official cause of the fire remains under investigation. An Olathe Fire spokesperson estimates damage at approximately $50,000. Investigators also say that the two residents of the home were first alerted to the fire by working smoke detectors in the house.

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Lenexa Burn Ban suspended

Posted: November 10, 2011 - 6:00pm
Updated: November 11, 2011 - 2:25am

The Lenexa Fire Department says the temporary burn ban has been suspended, effective November 11th. The recent rains have provided sufficient moisture to decrease the hazards of fire to the dry grasses and vegetation across the county. Open burning will be permitted within the stipulations of city fire codes and with an approved open burning permit issued by the Lenexa Fire Department.

The burn ban was issued in mid-October. The original story can be found here.

Fire officials also remind the public to always properly dispose of cigarettes, using approved fire-safe containers and never discard cigarettes in areas of grass, mulch, brush, leaves or from vehicles.

Anyone with questions concerning open burning or how to obtain an open burning permit, contact the Lenexa Fire Department at 913-888-6380.