TOPEKA—An electrical fire caused substantial damage to a home on Thursday in Topeka.
Just after 9a.m. Thursday, crews responded to the fire at a home at 3421 SW Briarwood Lane, according to Assistant Fire Marshal Dylan Smith.
Upon arrival, crews found smoke and flames coming from several first-floor windows of a 2 story single-family home. Crews located fire at the back of the residence that had made its way into the house. Fire crews were able to keep the fire contained to the structure. A search of the home revealed no occupants inside. It was later confirmed that it was unoccupied at the time of fire origin. Search crews were able to locate one dog that had succumbed to the fire.
A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as accidental, electrical, according to Smith. The estimated dollar loss – $319,000; $219,000 of which is associated with a total structural loss and $100,000 is associated with contents loss.
Working smoke detectors were located within the structure.