Heavy fire from Lawrence structure, two injuries reported
3:30 a.m. Update: Medics have treated three people at the scene. The first was a resident of the address with unknown injuries, unconfirmed report of smoke inhalation. That resident was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital by another resident after refusing transport by ambulance. Two firefighters were also treated at the scene for heat exhaustion. Both are said to have returned to work after cooling off and re-hydrating.
Firefighters have also started using an aerial water stream to extinguish fire through holes cut in the roof. Parts of the structure are said to be heavily damaged and unstable.
2:17 a.m. Update: An additional fire apparatus and another medic unit have been added to the call. One firefighter is being checked out by Medics at the scene for an unknown injury.
1:59 a.m. Update: Medics reported making contact with a resident nearby who was requesting evaluation. That person refused to be transported by ambulance from the scene and is said to be transported to LMH by another resident.
Firefighters report the bulk of the fire has been knocked down, heavy smoke remains throughout the structure. A primary search for occupants inside the structure has been completed with no one found. Crews are working to complete a secondary search at this time.
1:52 a.m. Report: Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical crews were called to 1321 Tennessee Street around 1:30 Wednesday morning on reports of a mattress burning on the front porch.
Police arrived within two minutes and reported the front porch to be “fully engulfed”.
Firefighters arrived about a minute after Police and confirmed “heavy fire showing from the two story, multi-family structure.” Those crews found the fire had also spread to both interior levels.
As of 1:45 a.m., crews had knocked down a large portion of the exterior fire and have started to attack the fire inside the structure.
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