The Paola community is rallying around a local police officer and his family after they lost their home in an early-morning fire earlier this month. The fire was at 711 Redbud Drive. Paola Polie Captain Eric Jenkins and his family escaped the fire unharmed, partially in thanks to their morning alarms which woke them before the smoke alarms went off. Firefighters originally had difficulty reaching the fire because of how the home is set up but was able to get water on the fire from the inside and from a ladder truck from the outside.
Captain Joe Flake of the Paola Fire Department says the fire started in the back of the home, near the deck, and then spread up the wall and into the ceiling and attic. He deemed it a complete loss. Jenkins says he and his family are renting a house in Paola and want to express their thanks to all of those who have reached out to help them, and that support is why Paola is such a great place to live.
