Three injured in southwest Wichita apartment complex fire

Three people were injured Sunday in an apartment complex fire in southwest Wichita.

Wichita firefighters were called to the 1300 block of West Walker, near Seneca and Orient, shortly after 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

“When firefighters came to the apartment complex, there was heavy flame and smoke coming from the second-floor balcony,” said Tammy Snow, Wichita deputy fire chief. “Primarily the west side of the apartment complex is pretty well involved.”

Within an hour, there were gaping holes in the roof and at least six people had been displaced, Snow said.

There were 12 units in the complex. Red Cross volunteers were working with the residents, Snow said, as well as the apartment complex manager, who was arranging Sunday for the residents to find other housing through another apartment complex he owns.

Three people were taken to a local hospital; one resident refused medical treatment, Snow said. Two of the three injured by the fire suffered from smoke inhalation, and the third received serious burns.

Firefighters may have initially been hindered in fighting the fire, Snow said, because of access issues.

“We have big equipment, and there was not a whole bunch of room to work with from the street side, especially when the fire spread,” Snow said.

As smoke poured from the building, several of the residents watched and sat on the grass across the street. One man broke into sobs when firefighters carried his pet cat to him and placed it in his arms.

People from blocks around either walked or drove to see the fire.

Snow said the displaced residents would be able to take their pets with them to their new homes.

“Investigators are ready to make entry to determine causes,” she said. “Until the investigator looks around, it is only a guess what caused the fire and how much is damaged.”

She said firefighters will remain on the scene for at least 24 hours to make sure no hot spots or embers flare up.

This story was originally published March 15, 2015 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Three injured in southwest Wichita apartment complex fire."