A fast-moving fire trapped several people including children at an apartment building.
Crews from Overland Park, Consolidated Fire District #2 and Leawood Fire departments were called to the 9500 block of Rosewood for a fire at the Villa Medici Apartments around 7 a.m.
The firefighters’ goal was two-fold to extinguish the flames and rescuing those trapped on two balconies.
95th Rosewood Ln fire Crews making good knockdown on fire. Believed all occupants accounted for. More later pic.twitter.com/nbimMq5sm6
— Overland Park Fire (@OPFDMedia) October 22, 2016
"They had open the door and the smoke came straight in the father closed the door and put a towel down at the bottom and then they ran to the balcony," Treca Pritner, a neighbor said. "They said call and tell the firemen where we are because we're in the back side."
Pritner looked on from her backyard as the flames leapt from the roof and acrid smoke filled the air.
"It was terrifying it was really frightening the children were of course very scared," Pritner said.
Using a ladder firefighters brought down four children and two adults from one balcony and another adult and a dog from the other.
None of them were hurt.
It took about an hour to bring the blaze under control. The fire damaged four out of the 12 units in the building.
"Thank god it wasn't any worst, we're very grateful," Pritner said.
Villa Medici management tells 41 Action News they have found temporary apartments for those displaced.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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Andres Gutierrez can be reached at andres.gutierrez@kshb.com
