Fully engulfed house fire in rural Douglas County

Posted: July 19, 2013 - 4:46am
Updated: July 19, 2013 - 5:13am

Aerial view of the area from Google Earth
Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

At 4:06 a.m. Palmyra Township fire was dispatched to respond on house fire at 358 E. 2073 Road. 

The address is about three miles northeast of Baldwin City.

Initial reports indicate that the resident returned home to find his residence on fire and called 911.

A Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter advised dispatchers that the structure was fully engulfed, just one minute after firefighters were dispatched. The highway patrol's helicopter had been in Johnson County assisting in the search for a man who ran from a stolen vehicle on Interstate 35 near the Gardner-Edgerton area. 

The helicopter pilot told dispatchers that his earlier area search was about nine miles to the east and they could see the 'glow' starting around 4 a.m.. When the helicopter was available from their search, they went to investigate the glow and learned that the fire had already been reported to Douglas County authorities.

Fire crews arrived within five minutes to confirm that the home was fully engulfed and crews would be using a defensive attack to keep it from spreading.

Palmyra Township fire requested a county-wide tender (water tanker) response and assistance from several township fire departments, Baldwin City fire and Wellsville Fire from Franklin County.

No injuries have been reported.

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Authorities investigating reported police impersonator

Posted: June 18, 2013 - 2:37am
Updated: June 18, 2013 - 3:06am

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Franklin County authorities are investigating after a motorist reported an unknown vehicle attempted to make a traffic stop.

The motorist described the vehicle as a white car with a police style light bar on the roof. The incident occurred shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday, near Interstate 35 and Kansas Highway 33 in Wellsville.

Franklin County dispatchers report that they did not have any units in that area that were attempting to make vehicle stops. The Kansas Highway Patrol was not believed to be in the area at the time.

Surrounding agencies have been notified of the possible impersonator.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at 785-242-3800 or Kansas Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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