JOHNSON COUNTY— The Eastern Kansas Multi-County Taskforce has completed their investigation of the fire that sent four firefighters to the hospital and has ruled it as an accidental fire caused from an electrical component in the basement, according to the Shawnee Fire Department.
Just after 9p.m. Tuesday, fire crews responded to a house fire at 4610 Silverheel Street in Shawnee, according to a media release.
While firefighters were in the home, a stairway collapsed and injured four fighters. The fire had progressed into a storage area underneath the stairwell that firefighters used to access the basement. The fire had weakened the stairwell and caused it to collapse under the weight of fire crews.
The Rapid Intervention crews responded immediately and rescued the four fighters from the home. EMS transported them to local hospitals where they were treated and released.
A fifth firefighter received medical attention at the scene due to the intense heat. Three residents of the home were able to escape without injury.
Mayor Michelle Distler said "Most importantly, I am so relieved that all of our firefighters are recovering. I want to extend any help I can possibly provide to the firefighters and their families. I think we all understand this could have had a different ending as it did for one of our own back in 2010. The bravery, courage and selflessness these men and women show every day when they show up on the job is unmatched. They make a promise to our community to protect and serve and that was on full display Tuesday night."
Damages are estimated at $300,000.
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