Lawrence city officials are reviewing fire and pet services codes to determine whether amending them could help prevent kennel fires like the one on Nov. 29 that killed at least three dogs and injured others.

An early-morning fire at Christal K-9, 3115 W. Sixth St., caused about $60,000 damage and firefighters had to rescue 23 dogs.

The building did not have fire alarms or sprinklers, but those safety features are not required in any kennels in Kansas, according to a city memorandum obtained by the Lawrence Journal-World.

In addition, at the time of the fire, Christal K-9 had almost double the number of dogs it typically has because of the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Lawrence Douglas-County Fire Medical records.

One dog was alone in a playroom where the fire ignited after the motor on a box fan froze, the fire report said. The dog was already dead when firefighters broke into that room.

“We’ll be discussing whether kennels should be mandated to have a fire sprinkler,” said Lawrence City Commissioner Jeremy Farmer. “I think that is a no-brainer. Obviously what happened in that fire was devastating to the owners and families of these pets and was really unfortunate.”

Lawrence City Manager David Corliss sent commissioners a memorandum on Wednesday, briefing them on state and local boarding kennel regulations and how other Kansas cities regulate kennels. The memo also included a few suggestions on how the code might be amended.

Some of the issues mentioned in the memo include:

• The city code requires any kennels — businesses that board five or more dogs simultaneously — to obtain a commercial kennel license, but in recent history, no boarding kennel in Lawrence has applied for a license, the memo said. No commercial kennel currently has a license.

• State law requires kennels to be inspected and licensed through the state Department of Agriculture. The memo questioned whether city licensing and state licensing overlap.

• City staff researched several Kansas cities and found that only Manhattan licenses and inspects boarding kennels through specific regulations. The other cities, including Olathe, Wichita and Topeka, indicated local rules could duplicate state rules.

• As for the city’s fire code, fire inspectors annually inspect businesses, including kennels, to determine compliance, the memo said.

• In a review of inspections of kennels, city staff found that two had open violations: an emergency light needed service, and an electrical outlet cover plate was missing.

• The memo suggested that if commissioners believed additional fire safety codes were needed, city staff could do further research to amend the city’s fire regulations specific to kennels.

Mayor Mike Amyx said the commission would likely have a discussion soon about the city code but it was too early to make recommendations.

“It probably is time to do a review of all the ordinances,” Amyx said. “This type of thing needs to be avoided at all costs.”

Christal K-9 owner Cedric Devin, who has apologized to the families for their loss and anxiety, did not return calls requesting an interview for this story. He told a reporter earlier that his attorneys had asked him to refrain from talking to the media.

Devin and his wife, Elizabeth Devin, opened the 1,500-square-foot grooming and boarding business several years ago. Cedric Devin served on the board of the Lawrence Humane Society for several years.

They have not said when they will reopen the business. The fire report said there is insurance through Allied Insurance, but it is unclear whether that covers just fire damage to the building or whether that insurance would cover the dogs’ medical bills.

One owner has told the Journal-World that the veterinarian who treated her dog has estimated medical bills will be at least $3,000.

The Devins also are heavily indebted. Douglas County court records show the state filed lawsuits against them and Christal K-9 earlier this year for about $232,000 in delinquent sales and income taxes. The court records do not indicate that any payments have been made to the state, and a Kansas Department of Revenue spokeswoman said she could not release any more information.

After the fire, investigators interviewed Christal K-9 employees who worked at the business Nov. 28, the night before the fire, according to the fire reports.

Susan Lown, a groomer, and her husband, Robert Lown, arrived at Christal K-9 about 11 p.m.

Because Christal K-9 was boarding 23 dogs, almost twice as many as normal, she wanted to clean up some cages and water and walk some of the dogs, the fire report said. Her husband volunteered to help.

Susan Lown said she saw the fans running but did not see anything out of the ordinary.

Danielle DuMortier, the daughter of Elizabeth Devin, also showed up to help with the dogs.

DuMortier told an investigator that because some of the dogs were panting, she turned down the air conditioning to 70 degrees from 78 degrees.

All three left just after midnight.

At 6:25 a.m., Becky Eason, an employee of Jazzercise, a business next to Christal K-9, arrived to open up the business.

She told an investigator she smelled a “strange” smoke when she opened her car door.

When she peeked into the Jazzercise business, she saw a haze, and the smoke smell was stronger. She called 911.

Firefighters arrived in five minutes, according to the fire report.

Firefighters did a sweep of the Jazzercise business but did not find signs of fire except for a light, hazy smoke.

They used a thermal imager and found elevated temperatures along the wall shared with Christal K-9.

Using “irons,” firefighters forced open the Christal K-9 door and saw a large bank of smoke covering the floor.

A firefighter reported finding a possible fire source and requested ventilation, the report said.

As the smoke was being exhausted, a firefighter opened a door inside Christal K-9 and found a room with numerous dogs in kennels.

Firefighters brought out a couple and a medic assisted bystanders in trying to resuscitate them. But as firefighters continued to bring out dogs, a medic called a division chief for backup.

Firefighters established two triage areas and dogs with minor injuries were placed in a separate grassy area.

Soon, firefighters, police officers, workers from animal control and the Humane Society shelter as well as veterinarians were working to save lives. Eason, who had reported the fire, also assisted.

Special pet oxygen masks that had been donated to the fire department in October were brought in and were later credited with saving some lives.

All the dogs were transported to area clinics: Clinton Parkway Animal Hospital, Bradley Animal Hospital and Animal Hospital of Lawrence.

Cedric Devin transported three dogs, including one named Jig, to Gentle Care Animal Hospital, according to the fire report.

The fire had been contained in a playroom for dogs and had already burned out when firefighters arrived, the fire report said.

Investigators said a kennel was placed in the corner of that room and the box fan had been placed on top of it. When the fan motor locked, it overheated. The internal parts of the motor, grease and ball bearings, heated until the insulation in the wiring caught fire and ignited the fiberboard behind the fan and the kennel.

It’s believed that Lulu, a dog owned by Eric and Vanessa Eicher, was in the kennel when the fire started. The heat from the fire melted the kennel, the report said. Lulu’s body was found outside the kennel near the entrance of the playroom, according to the report.

The Eichers told the Journal-World that Lulu’s white fur was black with smoke and she’d ripped the skin from the top of her nose in her attempts to free herself from the cage.

On Tuesday, the Eichers lost their second dog, Jig, who succumbed to injuries it sustained from smoke inhalation.

Marguerite Ermeling, a veterinarian at Gentle Care Animal Hospital, told the Journal-World that some of the dogs could have long-lasting effects from the smoke.

A third dog, Bentley, owned by Nancy Hause, also died from smoke inhalation.

Anthony Barnett, who owns Home Sweet Home Dog Resort, says the pet business community is stunned and saddened by the tragedy.

Barnett’s business has a fire alarm and sprinkler system, but he has spent the two weeks since the fire reviewing and updating his emergency plans with fire officials and other experts.

“That fire situation is my worst nightmare,” Barnett said. “When you are dealing with living creatures, there is a certain amount of stress that never turns off.”