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5 Kan. firefighters injured battling house fire

Four were transported after a stairway collapsed and have been released, and one was treated for a heat-related illness, officials said

ShawneeKanFFs.jpg

Photo/City of Shawnee, Kansas Government

Updated at 1:36 p.m. Central time July 6:

Andrea Klick
The Kansas City Star

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Four firefighters were injured when a stairwell collapsed as they worked to extinguish a blaze inside a home Tuesday night in Shawnee, a fire department spokesman said.

Firefighters from several departments responded to the blaze at 9:10 p.m. Tuesday in the 4600 block of Silverheel Street, Shawnee Fire Department Chief Rick Potter said. Crews from Olathe, Overland Park and other Johnson County fire departments were brought in to help.

When the stairwell collapsed, Potter said some firefighters fell through to the basement and others were trapped.

Four Shawnee firefighters were injured in the collapse or as crews rescued them. They were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and have been released from the hospital.

Potter said the rescue team moved quickly and did its job to help their fellow firefighters escape. He said he’s proud of his department and others for following their training and handling the situation.

“There are a lot of emotions, a range of emotion,” Potter said, “most of which this morning are relief. Relief for the outcome we had, relief that the outcome was good last night.”

A fifth firefighter was treated for heat-related purposes.

The residents escaped from the home uninjured before firefighters arrived.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

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©2022 The Kansas City Star

Original article:

Andrea Klick
The Kansas City Star

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Five firefighters were injured while putting out a blaze Tuesday night in Shawnee, the city said on social media.

The City of Shawnee tweeted that four firefighters were taken to the hospital after responding to the house fire at 9:10 p.m. near Grove and Silverheel streets. They are in stable condition.

Another firefighter was treated for heat purposes.

https://www.facebook.com/CityofShawnee/posts/pfbid02xft1ycNQB3YTANAtRUysZgv1xwAMqnig5PqZVFEJpwMdLVEXzwSh86syD4WL8NuSl

The residents escaped the fire without injury.

Part of the home collapsed as crews fought the blaze.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s investigation into the fire is ongoing.

https://www.facebook.com/CityofShawnee/videos/993922491306587

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©2022 The Kansas City Star

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