Man found dead after Overland Park apartment fire, other residents displaced
A man died, and several residents were displaced after an early Monday fire at an Overland Park apartment complex, where crews initially reported not hearing working smoke alarms, a fire official said.
Firefighters responded to the fire shortly after 5 a.m. at The Ainsley apartments in the 8700 block of 106th Terrace, just north of Interstate 435 and Antioch Road, said Jason Rhodes, media manager with the Overland Park Fire Department.
The first firefighters to arrive reported smoke and fire coming from a two-story apartment building, with people evacuating the burning building, Rhodes said. There were also reports of victims still inside.
While fire crews attacked the blaze, other firefighters searched the building and found a man deceased in one of the units, Rhodes said. Everyone else was able to evacuate the building.
The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes and has since been declared out. “Crews reported that they did not hear working smoke alarms,” Rhodes said, adding that was based on initial reports and would be investigated further.
The building comprises three sections, with six apartments in each section. Firefighters were trying to isolate the electricity to the building so residents could return to apartments not impacted by the fire. At the least, the fire will displace residents of six units. The number of people displaced was not immediately known. Many of the residents who evacuated were scattered across the complex, huddled in other buildings’ stairwells trying to keep warm on the cold morning, Rhodes said..
