MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Eight people were displaced early Tuesday morning after a structure fire damaged a multi-family residence in Hutchinson.
According to the Hutchinson Fire Department, crews were dispatched at 3:14 a.m. to the 700 block of East 3rd Avenue for a reported structure fire. First-arriving units found fire and smoke showing from the exterior of a 2½-story, balloon-frame apartment building.
Firefighters initiated a rapid interior attack while simultaneously evacuating all occupants from the building. The fire was brought under control quickly, and a primary search confirmed that all residents had safely exited the structure.
No injuries were reported.
The fire caused moderate damage to two apartments, with smoke damage extending to additional units. The building is currently without gas and electricity, rendering it uninhabitable.
The American Red Cross responded to the scene and is assisting the eight displaced residents. Five dogs from the residence were also placed in the care of the Red Cross.
Fire officials determined the cause of the fire to be accidental and electrical in nature. Investigators noted that nails and screws had penetrated exterior aluminum siding and damaged electrical lines inside the home.
The incident remains under review by the Hutchinson Fire Department.