JOHNSON COUNTY—Four firefighters were hospitalized after they were injured while fighting a fire at a Kansas home.
Just after 9p.m. Tuesday, fire crews responded to a house fire at 4610 Silverheel Street in Shawnee, according to a media release.
While firefighters were in the home, a stairway collapsed and injured four fighters. The Rapid Intervention crews responded immediately and rescued the four fighters from the home. EMS transported them to local hospitals where they were treated and released.
A fifth firefighter received medical attention at the scene due to the intense heat. Three residents of the home were able to escape without injury.
Mayor Michelle Distler said "Most importantly, I am so relieved that all of our firefighters are recovering. I want to extend any help I can possibly provide to the firefighters and their families. I think we all understand this could have had a different ending as it did for one of our own back in 2010. The bravery, courage and selflessness these men and women show every day when they show up on the job is unmatched. They make a promise to our community to protect and serve and that was on full display Tuesday night."
The State Fire Marshal and Eastern Kansas Multi-County Task Force are investigating the fire.