PHOTOS: Police rescue one, evacuate others from Thursday morning apartment fire

Posted: March 11, 2021 - 11:04 a.m.

Overland Park Police rescued one person and evacuated several others after a fire broke out in the Perry 81 Apartments on Thursday morning. Emergency crews were called to the building at 8025 Perry Street at 7:55 a.m.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke from the two-story building.
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All photos ©Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

"First fire units on the scene reported heavy smoke showing from the two-story apartment building with Overland Park Police effecting rescues and evacuations," said Jason Rhodes, Media Manager for the Overland Park Fire Department.

The fire is believed to have started in a second-floor unit and then spread to the building's attic.

Firefighters from Lenexa and Shawnee were called in to assist as part of a second-alarm assignment.

"It took crews over an hour to bring the fire under control as firefighters had to dig out deep-seated fire in the attic void spaces and chimney areas," Rhodes said. "Overland Park Police bravely assisted with a rescue and evacuations."
Firefighters rescued a dog from one apartment. No injuries were reported.

Residents from 10 apartments have been displaced and are working with apartment management to find housing.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and a damage estimate has not been released.

A second-floor apartment left heavily damaged by the fire.

Overland Park Fire Department Battalion 45.

Firefighters were evacuated from the building before the aerials unleased on the chimney fire.

Two Overland Park Fire Department aerial units were used to douse the building from above.

Firefighters await their next assignment as the aerial ladders pour water on the building.

Fire trucks and hose lines strewn through the complex parking lot.

Firefighters rotate in and out of the building.

Firefighters work on the back side of the building.

The fire spread to all three of the building's chimneys.

A balcony on the back of the building was used to help firefighters get on the roof

A fire department drone watches from above as a firefighter works on the roof

Firefighters inspect a section of the attic above the stairwell.

A firefighter uses a chainsaw to access a void in the attic space

Shawnee Fire's 'Engine 71' returns to the scene after using a nearby hydrant to refill

After the fire was brought under control

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Woman displaced by Christmas morning kitchen fire

Significant fire damage is visible on the rear of the home
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All photos ©Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

Posted: December 25, 2020 - 9:40 p.m.

The Overland Park Fire Department says a woman was able to escape her home when a fire broke out in her kitchen shortly after 8 Christmas morning.

Fire Department Media Manager Jason Rhodes says firefighters arrived to find smoke visible from the house on the southeast corner of 81st Street and Riggs Lane.

"Firefighters quickly went to work attacking a fire in the kitchen, while additional crews searched the home to be sure everyone was out," Rhodes said in a news release. "Fire significantly damaged the kitchen and adjoining living area."

Crews worked for approximately 25 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Rhodes says the resident was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation.

"Investigators believe the fire originated in the kitchen, but the exact cause is under investigation," Rhodes said.

The home did have working smoke alarms.

Firefighters from Consolidated Fire District No. 2 also responded to the scene.

The resident of the home is being assisted by the Red Cross.

Firefighters from Consolidated Fire District No. 2 also responded

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Two people escape after being alerted of fire by neighbors

Posted: October 1, 2020 - 9:35 p.m. 

Firefighters from Overland Park and Lenexa Fire Departments
responded on the fire just after 7 p.m.
All photos ©Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

A neighbor alerted two adults that their home had caught fire Thursday evening in Overland Park.

Firefighters from Overland Park and Lenexa were called to the home at 8901 West 93rd Street just after 7 p.m.

Overland Park Fire Department Media Manager Jason Rhodes says firefighters arrived to report heavy fire visible from the split-level, single-family home.

“Crews began an offensive fire attack on exterior fire before transitioning to an interior attack, where they found significant fire in the attic of the home,” Rhodes said. “It took about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control as there were several hard to reach pockets of fire that required significant work to access.”

Firefighters worked to extinguish fire on the outside of the house
before moving inside to check for extension.
Additional photos available below this report.

Both residents escaped without injury. The home sustained significant fire and smoke damage according to the fire department. A damage estimate was not immediately available.

“The exact cause of the fire is under investigation, but the residents reported lighting the fireplace and shortly thereafter being called by neighbors who told them their house was on fire,” Rhodes said. “The residents said they were aware of slight damage to the chimney and that they intended to have it repaired soon.”

The Red Cross will be assisting the displaced residents.

“Overland Park Fire hopes this unfortunate incident can serve as a reminder to the rest of us that as temperatures drop and we begin using heat sources to warm our homes, we should have furnaces and chimneys inspected annually by trained professionals,” Rhodes said.

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One dog killed, three residents displaced after Sunday afternoon apartment fire

Posted: September 20, 2020 - 7:05 p.m.

Firefighters from Lenexa, Overland Park, and a Shawnee Battalion Chief were called to The Retreat at Woodridge Apartments in the 8800 block of Hauser Drive at 3:24 Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters from Lenexa, Overland Park, and Shawnee
responded to the call.
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All photos ©Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

In a news release, Lenexa Deputy Fire Chief Scott Hoch says firefighters arrived at 3:27 to find a fire in one first-floor apartment of the three-story building.

Lenexa Police assisted firefighters with evacuating 16 apartments in the building.

Deputy Chief Hoch says firefighters rescued one dog as they worked to extinguish the fire.

Firefighters attempted to resuscitate the dog in front of the building, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Firefighters used fans to remove brown smoke from inside the fire apartment

The fire was reported to be under control at 3:40 p.m. and out at 3:51 p.m. Other residents of the building were able to return to their apartments after the fire was extinguished.

Damage from the fire, smoke, and water was confined to one first floor apartment according to the news release.

Fire investigators are still working to determine what caused the fire, and a damage estimate has not been determined.

The Red Cross is assisting three residents who were displaced.

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12 displaced, four rescued from late-night apartment fire

Posted: September 9, 2020 - 2:08 p.m.

The Lenexa Fire Department says they rescued four people from balconies and a window when they arrived on the scene of an apartment fire late Tuesday night.

Evacuated residents watch as firefighter work to extinguish the fire.
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All photos ©Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

Firefighters were dispatched to the London House Apartments, 12801 Lord Nelson Drive at 10:19 p.m. The apartment complex is located immediately northwest of 99th Street and Rosehill Road.

In a news release, Deputy Fire Chief Scott Hoch says the first firefighters arrived on scene at 10:22 and reported light smoke visible from the front of the building.

Two Lenexa firefighters climb the ladder to access
the roof of the apartment building.

"Personnel immediately identified trapped occupants on the second floor of the building at a front window and rear balcony with an active fire in the common hall at the rear of the structure," Hoch says in the release.

Two residents of an apartment on the first floor self-evacuated and were then treated by Johnson County Med-Act paramedics for smoke inhalation. One of those residents, only identified as a woman in her 50s, was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for additional treatment. Her condition was described as "stable."

Fire officials say the fire was confined to the first and second floor common hallway and was reported under control at 10:43 p.m.

Four apartments were damaged by smoke and heat according to the fire department.

Twelve residents were displaced and are all receiving assistance from the Red Cross.

Firefighters rescued a cat from the building as they worked to extinguish the fire. A second cat was located and removed from the building after the fire was out.

Lenexa firefighters returning one of the rescued cats to evacuated residents.

"Preliminary damage estimates to the structure and contents exceed $100,000," Hoch says in the release. "The cause of the fire is currently under investigation."

The Overland Park Fire Department also responded to assist with the fire.

Lenexa firefighters standing by, awaiting their next assignment.

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