A Merriam family coming home from church Sunday afternoon was still several blocks away from their house when they saw smoke. They immediately had a bad feeling.
Neighbors say family lost Rottweiler pic.twitter.com/WfJdVvbIOu
— Josh Helmuth (@Jhelmuth) March 6, 2016
"We had our dog for 12 years ever since he was five weeks old. He was just like one of us,” said Cecil Jenkins.
Jenkins, who’s lived at the corner of Knox and County Line Road for 30 years, arrived home to see his detached garage on fire. And in the garage was his 12-year-old Rottweiler, Clutch.
"I was on the phone with 911 while I was trying to see if the door was unlocked so I could get the dog out,” said neighbor Donovan Grady.
Grady called 911 after he smelled smoke and looked out his back window to see Jenkin’s garage on fire. Just seconds later, the fire, pushed by the heavy wind, was onto his property.
"It went really fast. When I smelled it, it was only a few seconds before we saw it coming up the yard,” said Grady.
According to Overland Park Fire Department, the fire began shortly after 12:30 p.m. as a small grass fire across the street from Jenkin’s home. However, witnesses told OP Fire that the flames jumped the street and spread directly to Jenkin’s garage within about four minutes.
Kck grass fire. Within 4 min, jumped from left side to right where garage is located. Fam lost canine. Very windy pic.twitter.com/UjnCyGpunU
— Josh Helmuth (@Jhelmuth) March 6, 2016
Once OP Fire arrived, they were able to knock down the fire within 20 minutes, saving all remaining structures. No persons were hurt from the fire.
Because of the dry and windy weather, the pop-up grass fire was not surprising to local fire crews. They stressed the importance of the current burn ban following the fire on Sunday.
"Smoking materials, something like that, please do it appropriately. Something as simply barbecuing outside for dinner, make sure that you take every precaution available,” said OP Fire Battalion Chief Alan Long.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but fire investigators have cited cigarette butts as a possible cause.
All issued burn permits are presently suspended and no recreational fires are allowed.
Backside of garage that was lost. pic.twitter.com/rbJKqlk3L4
— Josh Helmuth (@Jhelmuth) March 6, 2016
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com.
