HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson firefighters were called to two separate structure fires less than four minutes apart Thursday afternoon, forcing crews to split resources between incidents on opposite sides of the city.
According to the Hutchinson Fire Department, the first call came in at 1:03 p.m. for a reported structure fire in the 600 block of West 18th Avenue. Dispatchers received reports of heavy black smoke coming from a detached garage behind a residence.
Just four minutes later, at 1:07 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a second reported structure fire in the 1700 block of North Madison Street. All available city fire units were divided between the two incidents.
Vehicle fire found inside garage
At the West 18th Avenue location, firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from a side walk-in door of a detached garage. The building was described as an approximately 30-by-50-foot enclosed metal structure.
Crews made a quick interior attack and discovered the source of the fire was a vehicle inside the garage. Fire officials said the blaze remained relatively small because of limited airflow inside the building.
The fire was extinguished, and firefighters opened the garage doors to ventilate heat and smoke. The fire was brought under control about 10 minutes after crews arrived. Two units remained on scene to assist with ventilation and the investigation.
Porch fire quickly contained
Meanwhile, crews responding to the North Madison Street fire found a small residential fire smoldering on a front porch that appeared to have extended into an exterior wall.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire on the porch and checked the interior of the home for any extension. The fire was declared under control approximately five minutes after arrival. One unit remained at the scene to assist with the investigation.
Fire officials said both incidents had the potential to become much larger fires but were contained quickly thanks to prompt reporting and a rapid response from firefighters.
The Hutchinson Fire Department also thanked Reno County EMS, the Hutchinson Police Department, Evergy, Kansas Gas Service and Reno County Emergency Communications for their assistance.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation.