SHAWNEE COUNTY—A child was critically injured in a house fire Tuesday in Topeka.
Just before 4:30p.m., fire crews responded to a fire in a two-story home at 710 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.
Upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the residence. Three occupants of the structure were able to self-evacuate prior to the fire departments arrival. During a search of the structure, firefighters located one unconscious juvenile victim.
The child was removed from the residence where firefighters began life saving measures. AMR transported the child to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.
A preliminary investigation by the Topeka Fire Department Investigation Unit indicates the fire cause to be undetermined, more likely than not associated with a juvenile playing with a lighter. The origin of the fire was determined to be in the northwest corner of the second floor.
The Estimated dollar loss – $30,000.00; of which $20,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $10,000.00 is associated with contents loss. Six people were displaced as a result of the fire. Working smoke detectors were not located within the structure of fire origin.