June 23, 2019

By Assistant Chief Jim Eden
Lee’s Summit Fire Department

Two structure fires kept LSFD crews busy overnight. The first structure fire was reported on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at 11:11 p.m., the occupants of 223 SW Pinetree Lane reported a fire in the fourplex from a lightning strike.

When the fire department arrived, light smoke was visible from the outside of the two-story fourplex.  The occupants of all the units were all safe outside.

Firefighters located and extinguished a fire in the first floor utility rooms of units 221 and 223. The utility rooms shared a wall that separated both units. The fire traveled in the walls between the two units to the second floor. Firefighters had to open up the walls and ceilings to get to the fire concealed inside and stop it from spreading. A search of the entire fourplex confirmed no one was inside. The incident was under control by 11:55 p.m.

It was determined the fire was caused by a lightning strike.  Fire damage to both units was confined to the area around the utility rooms with varying amounts of smoke damage to the remainder of the units. Units 217 and 219 did not sustain any damage and were able to be reoccupied.

A second reported structure fire Sunday morning was located at 603 NE Darwin Street. At 6:46 a.m., a passerby reported smoke coming from the eaves of the house.

When firefighters arrived, smoke was visible from the single-story, single family residence. There was no one outside.

Crews entered the smoke filled house and extinguished a small fire in the basement. A search of the house confirmed it was unoccupied. The incident was under control by 7:02 a.m.

Fire damage was contained to the basement with smoke damage throughout the house. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.