By Vivienne Leyva
(Riley County, KS – September 6, 2024) At 10:15 AM on Friday, September 6, Riley County Fire District #1 was dispatched to reports of a structure fire at 5512 High Meadow Circle, near Tuttle Creek Lake. Upon arrival, responders found black smoke coming from the garage of a single-family home.
RCFD#1 volunteer crews aggressively attacked the fire and were able to extinguish the blaze within 20 minutes. No injuries were reported.
“A working smoke detector alerted the resident of the fire in its early stages of development which allowed for timely notification to the fire department and the quick response and knock down of the fire,” explained Fire Chief Russel Stukey. The Kansas Fire Marshal will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, following standard protocol for all structure fires in the state. Foul play is not suspected.
Total damages are estimated at $90,000 including damages to the structure, one vehicle, and the contents of the garage. The property owner is listed as Susan Brown of Manhattan..
A total of 15 volunteer firefighters responded on 5 apparatus. They extinguished the fire within 20 minutes and remained on scene to perform mop up and monitor conditions.“I also want to highlight the crucial role a closed door plays in fire safety,” Deputy Fire Chief Doug Russell explained. “Keeping the door between your home and garage closed, as well as sleeping with bedroom doors closed, can make a life-saving difference in an emergency. I strongly urge everyone to adopt these simple but effective precautions.”