RILEY COUNTY–Authorities are investigating a fire at a home in rural Riley County.
Just after 3a.m. Friday, Riley County Fire District #1 was dispatched to a reported a house fire at 1819 Kientz Drive, in the Hunter’s Island area south of Manhattan.
Crews found a home with smoke and flames showing. Two adults and three young children were asleep at the time of the fire. The family reports they were sleeping with bedroom doors closed and were awakened by the sound of the smoke alarm.
They were able to escape safely through a bedroom window without injury. Unfortunately, three of the family’s four pet cats perished in the fire.
The damage estimate is not yet available, but firefighters on the scene report the kitchen area was destroyed and the rest of the home had extensive smoke damage. The fire appears to have started in the kitchen, according to Fire Chief Russel Stukey.
Sam Foster, who is also a volunteer firefighter with RCFD#1, and his family are the occupants who rent the home.
“The family will be displaced for at least several weeks while the significant damage is repaired."
If anyone would like to help them out, donations to the Sam Foster family can be sent via the Riley County Firefighters Association,” said Stukey.