SALINE COUNTY—A fire Wednesday afternoon destroyed a historic Saline County residence, leaving a family of five without a house.
Just after 1p.m., a passerby noticed flames coming from the home at 8853 East Cloud, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. By the time firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames.
The homeowners owned Amanda and Eric Puvogel were away from the residence. Their cat a cat was home but has not been found. The house, built in the 1890s, had been completely restored, according to Soldan.
Buffeted by gusting winds, the fire quickly spread to a chicken coop, a Chevrolet Silverado, and a Morton Building on the property, he said.
At the time of the fire, winds were gusting at 48-51 mph, according to a report from the Salina Regional Airport weather station.
Total loss was estimated at $750,000, Soldan said.
Because of the quickly spreading fire, firefighters from Rural Fire District 1, Rural Fire District 5, and the Solomon Fire Department responded to the blaze, Soldan said.
An official cause of the fire had not yet been determined.