photo by: Rochelle Valverde

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical workers were on scene at a fire in the 900 block of Mississippi Street the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 3, 2018.

Story updated at 5:50 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2018:

Firefighters battled three fires that broke out within the span of about an hour on Friday afternoon in Lawrence, according to radio traffic.

The first fire reported occurred at about 1 p.m. at 1022 Alabama St., and the second about 20 minutes thereafter in the 1400 block of Prairie Avenue. The third broke out at around 2 p.m. in a two-story house near Ninth and Mississippi streets, where flames and heavy smoke were visible.

Division Chief James King said in an email to the Journal-World Friday afternoon that to his knowledge, no residents or firefighters were injured due to the fires. He said that the fire on Alabama Street was an accidental fire due to improper disposal of ash from a grill. The causes of the Prairie Avenue and Mississippi Street fires are currently being investigated, he said.

The three fires were occurring as other first responders were at the scene of a water rescue at the Kansas River. Following the second fire, radio traffic indicated that medics from Johnson County would be helping Lawrence first responders with medical calls.

photo by: Sara Shepherd

Firefighters respond to a fire reported shortly after 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at 1022 Alabama St.