HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Fire crews were sent to the 5800 block of North Monroe Wednesday on the report of a structure fire.
The alarm came in around 11:23 a.m. Wednesday according to Hutchinson Fire Chief Kim Forbes. He says a passersby saw the fire and smoke even though the home sits about a half mile back from the street.
When fire crews arrived, the home was fully involved with fire coming out the windows. Smoke could be seen all over town.
He described the home as being an older home, maybe a story and half to two story.
They immediately began to work to keep the fire from spreading to the garage and also get close to a propane tank which was some distance away.
Because the home is so far away from any city fire hydrant, they asked for help from Reno County Fire District 3 and the Buhler Fire Departments to assist and refill tanks at the nearest city fire hydrant, that being at 43rd & Monroe.
The roof and walls for most of the home collapsed, according to Forbes, and even in the area where there wasn’t a collapse, the furniture was badly burned and couldn’t be saved.
The fact that the home is so far from the road and has a very narrow driveway made it even more difficult for firefighters to fight the blaze. Forbes says the home will be a total loss.
The sheriff’s department had Monroe north from 56th blocked for about three quarters of a mile. Those who lived in the Blue Spruce area, as well as the Highlands, had to find alternate routes to get to their homes.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Forbes says they have asked the Reno County Sheriff’s Department to assist in the investigation of the cause.
The residents of the home were not there and there were no injuries.