2 escape from North Topeka house fire

Two people escaped safely from a North Topeka house during a fire that severely damaged the structure Tuesday morning.

Fire crews were called about 6:15 a.m. to three reports of a fire at 1009 N.E. Monroe.

Shift commander Mike Thompson said the first crews arriving at the scene reported that the north side of the house was engulfed in flames. Two people inside the home had escaped safely.

No injuries were reported, Thompson said.

More than a dozen people watched as fire crews knocked down the flames. Firefighters continued working to extinguish hot spots throughout the house more than two hours after the blaze was initially reported.

Thompson said the house didn’t have electricity, and it wasn’t certain whether it was connected to gas service. A Kansas Gas Service worker was called to the scene to check after a neighbor reported smelling gas.

A bystander said a dog belonging to the residence hadn’t made it out, but Thompson said fire crews hadn’t found anything as of 7:45 a.m. He said the man living in the residence “had a lot of stuff” that crews were sorting through.

A cause hadn’t yet been determined, but a fire investigator was at the scene.

Thompson said the structure was considered a total loss.

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