Apartment fire under investigation

A fire Sunday that damaged an apartment is under investigation by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical.

A male occupant of the apartment at 527 Calif. arrived home, discovered the fire and reported it at 5:48 p.m. Firefighters arrived at 5:53 p.m. and had it under control two minutes later, Division Chief Jerry Karr said. The cause of the fire was not known.

Damage to the apartment was estimated at $11,000, Karr said. Fire damage was confined to the one apartment, he said.

The occupant and a male roommate were receiving assistance from the Red Cross.

Officers, firefighters are out for blood

Local police and firefighters will compete this week to see which agency can bring in the most donated blood during the annual “Battle for Blood” drive.

The drive will help boost the critically low supplies of blood at Community Blood Center, 1410 Kasold Dr.

Today through Friday, anyone who gives blood at the center will be asked to pick which agency the gift should represent: Lawrence Police, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical or the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Whichever agency has the most donations earmarked wins the competition.

Community Blood Center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

The center will serve a complimentary lunch to donors this week.