Fire causes significant damage at Orchard Corners apartments; no injuries reported

Firefighters work to control a fire at Orchard Corners apartments, 1405 Apple Lane, Tuesday, March 22, 2016.

Firefighters are investigating the cause of a two-alarm fire Tuesday afternoon at Orchard Corners Apartments in west Lawrence.

No injuries were reported.

At 12:12 p.m. a fire was reported on the balcony of a third-floor apartment at 1403 Apple Lane, near the intersection of Kasold Drive and Bob Billings Parkway, said Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Division Chief Bill Stark.

Large flames and heavy smoke emerged from the apartment and the roof.

Most of the flames were knocked down within 10 minutes of firefighters arriving on scene, Stark said.

“But it took us quite some time to bring it totally under control,” he added. “Because of the design of the building, it’s very tall and there are a lot of hidden areas where the fire can go.”

Crews remained on scene into the evening, checking the complex to ensure the fire was out, Stark said.

Two third-floor apartments received the bulk of the fire, smoke and water damage, Stark said.

“Those two apartments were damaged, one heavily, one not so bad. And the ones below probably had a little water and smoke damage,” he said.

Many residents living in other apartments within the building were allowed back inside Tuesday afternoon.

Further information was not immediately available.

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