Home destroyed in OP fire didn’t have working smoke detectors, officials say
A home that was destroyed by an overnight fire in Overland Park on Thursday didn’t have working smoke detectors, according to Jason Rhodes, media manager for the Overland Park Fire Department.
Crews responded to the blaze around 1 a.m. near Lamar Avenue and 186th Street, where they reported “heavy fire showing from the garage and back side” of a two-story home.
All occupants were able to exit the home safely. One person was helped out of a second-story window and down a ladder before crews arrived, Rhodes said. Two men were taken to hospitals for smoke inhalation and a woman was treated at the scene.
It took crews around an hour and a half to bring the fire under control, the release said. Firefighters had to use “extreme caution” extinguishing the fire because of heavy solar panels located on a damaged roof.
“This close call serves as a reminder to have and maintain working smoke alarms,” Rhodes said. “Additionally, knowing two ways out of every room and practicing a fire escape plan are crucial elements of home fire safety.”
Fire investigators determined the blaze was accidental, Rhodes said.
The Star’s Laura Bauer contributed reporting.
This story was originally published February 5, 2026 at 10:14 PM.
