Firefighters were kept busy this morning in Lawrence.

Just after 3, Fire Medical crews were called to investigate a fire alarm sounding at McCollum Hall, 1800 Engel Road on Daisy Hill. KUPD reported “heavy smoke” on the 9th floor with alarms sounding. Fire crews reported nothing visible from the exterior of the 10-story building upon their arrival. After firefighters reported a “light haze” on the top five floors of the building, sixth and above. Incident command requested a second alarm response ordered at 3:17 a.m., for additional crews. A Medic crew making access to the upper floors of the building reported locating a “burned heater” in the center stairwell on the 6th floor at 3:31 a.m.. By 3:40 a.m., crews were confirming that the source of the haze was the “overheated heater unit” in the 6th floor stairwell. Fire crews began monitoring Carbon Monoxide levels in the building and ventilating the haze before allowing residents to return to their rooms. All residents were allowed to return to their rooms around 4:30 a.m.. There were no reports of injuries and no serious damage to the building.

At 6:19, One fire unit was dispatched to the 1600 block of Tennessee Street to investigating a smoke odor in the area. That unit reported a “visible haze” in the area and after searching the area, located a small campfire in a backyard.

At 6:20, Lawrence Fire crews were dispatched on a possible structure fire in the 2300 block of Ridge Court. Two people had called 911 reporting smoke detectors sounding with no visible smoke or fire. Initially only one fire unit was dispatched but, at the request of a responding Division Chief, the response was upgraded to a full structure fire alarm. One unit continued to the scene with an emergency response, while all others responded non-emergency. The first unit to arrive reported nothing visible from the three story apartment building. After about three minutes that crew reported an obvious “burnt food odor”. All other units were allowed to clear from the call at 6:31 after the fire alarm was reset.

Lawrence Police conducted several vehicle stops this morning, one resulting in a DWI arrest.

None of this morning’s activity was reported to have involved any serious injuries.

The activity blogged here is only a sampling of some of the things that Douglas County Law Enforcement and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical respond on. To see a complete list of Lawrence Police activity, the department has that available on their website along with several easy to use maps that show approximate locations for Police activity.

Some of the activity blogged above was reported as it was unfolding by Operation 100 News. Learn how to receive breaking news updates here.

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