Electric woes suspected cause of house fire

A house fire Tuesday in south Lawrence caused an estimated $20,000 damage.

Mark Bradford, deputy chief of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical, said the fire apparently started about 10 a.m. at the home, 316 Parkhill Terrace.

No one was injured, Bradford said. No one was home at the time. The family’s pets were evacuated by firefighters.

Bradford said a neighbor called 911 to report smoke coming out of a first-floor window.

A preliminary investigation indicated the fire resulted from an electrical problem with an aquarium, he said.

Hall center in focus on ‘River City Weekly’

“River City Weekly” explores the work of the Hall Center for the Humanities this week with its director Victor Bailey and its executive director, Janet Crow.

Pulitzer-Prize winning author Jared Diamond rounds out the show as he discusses his book “Guns, Germs and Steel” with host Greg Hurd.

“River City Weekly” airs on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 and premieres at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with encore showings at 7:30 weeknights and at 9 a.m. Saturdays.

Accident leaves driver in critical condition

An accident near the Douglas/Franklin County line sent a Topeka woman to KU Med.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department reported 24-year-old Celessa M. VanSickel lost control of her 1995 Nissan just before 10:45 p.m. Monday as she was heading northbound on Tennessee Road.

VanSickel’s car struck an embankment just south of the county line where the road turns into East 1900 Road. Sheriff’s officials said her car flipped at least one and a half times.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical crews and the Palmyra Township Fire Department extricated VanSickel from the car.

She was flown by air ambulance to KU Med in Kansas City, Kan., where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday afternoon.

Fire under investigation at Edgewood Homes

A two-alarm fire that broke out in an Edgewood Homes fourplex was still under investigation late Tuesday night, said Mark Bradford, deputy chief with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical.

The fire appeared to have started in a wall between apartments at one end of the fourplex and was confined there, Bradford said.

Flames and heavy smoke could be seen when the first fire units arrived at 8:24 p.m., he said. Damage was estimated at $50,000.

Fire & Medical and Red Cross officials were working Tuesday night to help 11 occupants of the unit to relocate.

Some residents of the complex, 1600 Haskell Ave., said lights flickered and went out at the same time the fire started.

“We came out and saw flames coming through the roof,” said Sunshine Guzman, who lives in an apartment near the fire-damaged building.

Commissioners meet tonight in Eudora

Eudora – Douglas County commissioners will meet at 6:35 p.m. at Eudora City Hall for a meeting with the Eudora City Council. While no formal matters are scheduled for approval, commissioners intend to discuss several matters of mutual interest.

Among them: potential fireworks restrictions, and several proposals for major construction projects in the Eudora area.