Two-alarm blaze engulfs houses under construction in southern Overland Park
A pre-dawn, two-alarm blaze engulfed three houses under construction and threatened a nearby occupied home early Monday in southern Overland Park, a fire spokesman said.
Firefighters responded to the fire about 4:20 a.m. in the 11100 block of West 172nd Terrace, which is near West 175th Street and Switzer Road.
The first crews on the scene reported a heavy fire coming from a two-story, single family home under construction, said Jason Rhodes, a spokesman for the Overland Park Fire Department. The fire was beginning to spread to other nearby homes that were under construction.
A second alarm was called, which brought additional firefighters from Overland Park and Olathe to assist in battling the fire.
Because of the intensity of the blaze and strong southerly winds, the fire spread in a matter of minutes to two other houses under construction, Rhodes said. The fire also threatened an occupied home to the north of the construction.
Firefighters attacked the blazes from all sides and sprayed water onto the occupied house to protect it from falling embers. The occupants were evacuated.
Firefighters brought the fire under control in just over an hour, but not before it destroyed the three homes under construction, Rhodes said. The houses were in the framing phase of construction and did not have any fire protection measures in place.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 7:10 AM.
