HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) – A fire in Hutchinson on Sunday caused six people to be displaced just before the holidays.
The fire was reported around 11:20 a.m. at a row apartment in the 1200 block of N. Severance St.
According to the Hutchinson Fire Department, the structure did not have a sprinkler system or working smoke alarms. A passerby who called in the fire started evacuating residents.
The fire was confined to one apartment. However, the entire front of this building is burned, paint has melted off the wood, and there are piles of burned belongings outside. This all happened over the course of about an hour.
One neighbor who was living in the building next door says he became aware of the fire when he heard a woman banging on doors. His girlfriend went out to investigate and found a plume of smoke coming from the building.
“There were bystanders that arrived from all walks of life everywhere; even three blocks down, there were people standing and watching it,” said Johnathan Hysom.
He says he went to the building to try to help his neighbors and get them to use extinguishers while they waited for firefighters. He then left notes on their doors to let them know he could help move things with his truck if needed.
Hysom says a couple of neighbors have told him they’ll need his help.
Tune into KSN News at 6 for continuing coverage with Zena Taher.