A fire in Manhattan Monday afternoon resulted in about $75,000 in damage to a two-story structure. At 2:45 p.m., the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to the blaze at 422 Vattier and upon arrival crews found a two-story residential structure with smoke and fire showing. Crews entered the structure and quickly extinguished the fire. The fire reached a second alarm before it was contained within 30 minutes with a total of 21 firefighters responding on 6 fire apparatus.
The building was divided into two apartments with neither occupant being home at the time of the fire. Both occupants are displaced at this time and will be provided assistance by Red Cross. The residence received an estimated loss of $15,000 to the contents and $60,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Karla Shepherd of Wichita.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
K-MAN also received word of a fire at 5770 Lake Elbo Road last Friday, with estimated property and content loss now at 125-thousand dollars. Pottawatomie County Fire Supervisor Jared Barnes tells K-MAN crews responded to an attic fire and upon arrival found smoke coming from the eaves. They made an interior attack and found the fire was still confined to the attic space. The occupants were home at the time but there were no injuries. The fire was in Blue Townships district and there was assistance from St. George, Wamego, Manhattan, Louisville, and Westmoreland Fire Departments. Cause is undetermined at this time.
