photo by: LDCFM

Fire crews respond to a remote campsite near Burcham Park on Oct. 21, 2023.

Fire crews extinguished a fire at a remote riverside camp near Burcham Park on Saturday that investigators believe was caused by a “repurposed wood-burning stove.”

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical crews responded to the 200 block of Indiana Street around 7:30 a.m. Saturday after a fire in the woods near Burcham Park and the University of Kansas rowing boathouse was confirmed by a KU police officer, said McKenzi Ezell with LDCFM.

Upon arrival crews had difficulty reaching some of the off-road areas where the fire was and used a brush truck and a utility task vehicle. They had to supply the smaller fire response vehicles with a hose attached to a larger truck, Ezell said.

A caller reported to the 911 operator that explosions could be heard from the area of the fire, possibly due to propane tanks, and while firefighters were working to put the fire out they could also hear small explosions, Ezell said.

No injuries were reported in connection with the fire, but a tent constructed out of a large suspended tarp was destroyed, along with other miscellaneous personal belongings, and a small vehicle at the campsite was also destroyed, Ezell said.

Investigators determined the fire was accidental and originated near a repurposed wood-burning stove that was in use, Ezell said.