Firework sparks Olathe duplex blaze, displacing 13 people: fire department
A Sunday evening fire at an Olathe duplex was sparked by a firework, the Olathe Fire Department said.
No injuries were reported, but the blaze displaced 13 people. As of Sunday evening a family cat had not been found, Olathe Fire Department Captain Mike Hall said.
Firefighters were called to the duplex fire near the intersection of East 152nd Street and South Avalon Lane around 7:30 p.m. after a firework ignited a deck on the home, Hall said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but the fire did significant damage to the building, Hall said.
One side of the duplex, which was home to seven people, sustained heavy fire damage and most of what was in that residence was destroyed, Hall said. The other side of the duplex, home to six people, was filled with smoke. All who lived in the building were displaced, Hall said.
Personal fireworks are prohibited in Olathe.
“Always check with wherever you’re going to be to make sure that you are following the rules,” Hall said. “A lot of times these rules are there for one reason, it’s just safety and the well-being of everybody. We live in a pretty densely populated area, we’ve got houses that might be 15, 20 feet apart. Safety ordinances like this are just there to make sure everybody’s OK.”
“The best way to enjoy it is to leave fireworks to the pros,” he said. “Go to a professional, public display. Those things are permitted; they follow a ton of safety precautions, and they put on a great show.”
