OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KMBC) – Firefighters were on the scene of a large fire at an apartment complex in the 8300 block of Hadley Street in Overland Park on Tuesday night.
KMBC.com Images: Overland Park 3-Alarm Fire
The fire was reported just before 6 p.m. NewsChopper 9’s Johnny Rowlands flew over the fire, which appeared to start in a car port at the Greenbrier Apartments.
“As soon as they were getting that knocked down, the fire communicated itself, or spread, to the apartment building,” said Jason Rhodes of the Overland Park Fire Department
The fire started as a 2-alarm fire, but grew to a 3-alarm fire just after 6 p.m.
Firefighters said at least seven apartments sustained serious damage, as well as 16 carports.
Smoke was seen rising from the roof of the apartment building. Thick, black smoke was also coming from the car port. Residents said they heard several loud pops. Some people described the noises as explosions.
“There were about 10 explosions right after another and black smoke was just pouring out everywhere,” said tenant Carol Sherrell. She said she was sure that her apartment sustained smoke and water damage, at the very least.
“There is an apartment building that doesn’t have fire walls between units in the attic,” said Rhodes. “The fire got up into the attic, took off and ran the length of the building.”
Brady Sheridan said he had just come to the complex to consider renting.
“As soon as we pulled up there was just black smoke,” he said. “When we pulled in, the car garages were on fire and you heard popping sounds from the cars.”
He said it was clear that the fire started out small and quickly spread.
“Four houses were ablaze,” Sheridan said. “It went from this one going down the row, kept catching fire.”
Firefighters were busy dousing the fire with water from several hoses and making sure no one was inside the burning buildings.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
