RILEY COUNTY — There were no injures after an apartment building fire Monday in Manhattan.
Just before 7p.m., the Manhattan Fire Department responded to a fire at 415 Walters Drive, according to media release. When crews arrived, they found flames and smoke coming from the second floor and attic space of a two-story, eight-unit apartment building.
Six fire apparatus and 22 firefighters responded. Crews were able to extinguish the fire within 10 minutes.
Firefighters remained on scene until after midnight to overhaul the structure and make sure there were no additional dangers.
No people or animals were injured. All occupants were able to escape the fire safely before crews arrived. Three apartment units were deemed uninhabitable overnight.
Four people and one dog were displaced and received assistance from the American Red Cross.
Manhattan Fire Department estimates the loss of contents at $40,000 and the damage to the structure at $100,000. The fire started on the balcony of a second-story apartment.
A MFD fire investigator is working to determine the exact cause of the fire, but foul play is not suspected.
“The heat index was 112 at the time of the alarm, and I am proud of the great work crews did to knock down the fire quickly despite the extreme heat. Thankfully, no one was injured,” said Assistant Chief of Operations Sam Dameron.
The Manhattan Fire Department extended its appreciation to Riley County Fire District #1 for providing SCBA bottle filling, Riley County EMS for providing medical support, and the Riley County Police Department for assisting with scene control and traffic management.