KU student’s family dies in Olathe house fire
Freshman was in Lawrence during early-morning blaze that killed five
A Kansas University freshman and her brother are the only surviving members of an Olathe family after an early-morning fire killed her parents and three of her siblings.
Kameron Orr was in Lawrence when the fire gutted the family home at 15653 150th St. in east Olathe. Her brother, Justin Orr, woke up during the fire and escaped to a neighbor’s house to call 911.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found four of the family members already dead and another who had suffered injuries that eventually proved fatal. Justin Orr was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The Olathe Fire Department confirmed Saturday night that the fire had killed: Matthew Orr, 46, Rebecca Orr, 46, Benjamin Orr, 18, Jeremiah Orr, 16, and Kyle Orr, 14.
Kansas University spokesman Todd Cohen said Kameron Orr did not live in university housing and that school records listed her as residing at an Olathe address.
The fire department is still investigating the cause of the fire, but it appeared Saturday that the fire, which started before 5 a.m., had done the most damage toward the back of the house and on the first floor.
“This is the worst thing that’s happened in Olathe in 20 years,” said fire department spokesman Mike Hall.
Diana Cortner, who lives two houses away from the Orrs, said the neighborhood was in shock from the incident, but she was comforted by the knowledge that the Orrs had a strong support group in their Mormon church.
“It’s a very sad day,” Cortner said. “It is just one of those shockers to wake up to.”
Cortner said the Orrs had suffered another loss last year when a teenage daughter died of a brain aneurysm after a long illness.
Cohen said KU would be offering counseling services in the wake of the tragedy.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report






