Fifty people had to find somewhere else to sleep early Monday morning after a fire ripped through an Olathe apartment complex.
The Olathe Fire Department was called just after midnight to The Edge Apartments off I-35 and 119th Street following reports of large flames shooting from the building's roof.
Apt building a total loss @41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/PMDoihiwZf
— Sarah Plake (@SarahPlakeTV) April 25, 2016
Captain Mike Hall said 24 units were evacuated, leaving 50 people displaced. No one was hurt.
The Olathe Fire Department said Monday afternoon fire investigators believe the fire was accidental and started above an electrical panel in the third floor. The fire appears to have traveled from the panel area directly to the building's attic.
Fire crews and people who witnessed what was happening risked their own lives to help.
"[I] jumped out of the car, pouring out rain, ran up there, started knocking on doors," Joseph Walker, an eyewitness, said.
Several residents including Clarkson said they saw lightning just before the fire. However investigators used a tool that can pinpoint lightning strikes. It showed that around the time of the fire, the closest lightning strike was over a mile away.
The Red Cross was taking names and numbers at the complex's clubhouse to figure out a temporary shelter for those displaced.
.@OlatheFire watching out for any hot spots @41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/NM8QMkL2Zp
— Sarah Plake (@SarahPlakeTV) April 25, 2016
"I don't want that 2:00 morning phone call, I got one," Judy Smardo, Clarkson's mother, said.
She rushed over to help her son retrieve what's left.
"It's sad to lose things that you can't replace, I can't replace him," Smardo said.
In a rush to escape, Clarkson only grabbed his work bag.
"The biggest thing you got to stay positive," Clarkson said.
But thanks to Olathe firefighters, he managed to salvage a clock that has been passed down from his grandfather.
Resident Jason Clarkson is left with only a few work items & his grandfather's clock. @OlatheFire salvaged it. pic.twitter.com/7l5ZlBMbrS
— Andres Gutierrez (@AFGutierrez) April 25, 2016
"It's awesome. I have to clean all up and fix it up," Clarkson said.
He's not alone as his other neighbors are left to pick up the pieces.
The fire didn't spread anywhere else, but the roof caved in on the third level while the bottom two stories suffered extensive water damage.
The burned apartment building is a total loss and all 24 units are uninhabitable. The damage is estimated at $750,000.
Apartment building fire at The Edge off Strang Line Rd in Olathe. 24 units affected & 50 residents displaced. pic.twitter.com/sYXyxpXkYD
— Jason Gould (@OvernightPhotog) April 25, 2016
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Sarah Plake can be reached at Sarah.Plake@KSHB.com
Andres Gutierrez can be reached at andres.gutierrez@kshb.com
