NEWTON- The cause of Tuesday’s fatal fire in Newton remains under investigation.
Bruce Rempel, 63, died in the apartment building fire according to the Newton Fire Department.
The blaze occurred just after 10 p.m. at the 7 story Midtown Towers on 9th Street.
Firefighters were called after a report of smoke in the building, according to a fire department media release.
Upon arrival, crews noted fire venting out a 6th floor window on the south side of the apartment complex.
There were also reports of residents trapped on the upper floors and many could be seen looking out the windows.
Utilizing the fire department connection to extend hose lines from the standpipe in the stairwells, firefighters attack the blaze and began evacuating residents, many physically disabled, through the stairwells.
Some of the residents were carried downstairs by firefighters and Newton police officers.
One of the apartments was fully involved with fire and crews found an adult male who was assessed and pronounced dead at the scene.
In addition to the fatality, two residents were treated at the scene but declined medical transport.
Residents of lower floors were allowed to remain in their apartments if they desired.
Residents of upper floors were evacuated due to heavy smoke conditions and sheltered at the First Church of the Nazarene across the street from the fire.
Harvey County Support Services and Hesston EMS crews medically monitored all displaced occupants.
American Red Cross Disaster Services responded and established overnight sheltering and accommodation for those who needed it.
There were no injuries to emergency responders, although a medical monitoring and rehab station was established for them due to the extreme and prolonged efforts required during the operation.
Over 30 firefighters and EMS personnel from Newton, Hesston, and Walton were involved, along with more than a dozen law enforcement officers from Newton Police and Harvey County Sheriff’s office.
Investigators from Newton Fire, EMS and Newton Police Department are working the case.
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NEWTON- One person died in an apartment building fire in Newton on Tuesday night.
Newton Fire/EMS reported on social media that crews were called to the report of a smoke smell at Mid-Town Towers apartment complex on north 9th street just after 10p.m. Tuesday.
First-arriving crews found fire on the sixth floor.
The fire was extinguished, however crews had to evacuate residents from the heavy smoke and return other residents to uninvolved apartments.
Uninjured residents whose apartments were involved were evacuated to a nearby church while some victims were treated on the scene.
North Main street was temporarily closed to traffic during the fire.
Officials are working with the State Fire Marshal to determine the cause of the fire. Name of the victim has not been released.
Off duty personnel were called to staff fire, EMS stations in Newton Tuesday night along with fire, EMS personnel from Hesston, Halstead, and Walton.