A fire early yesterday morning, May 30th, in Paola destroyed a home, and while no human injuries were reported, three pets are believed to have perished in the blaze. According to the Miami County Republic, Lieutenant Chris Courtney of the Paola Fire Department was first on scene at 510 West Chippewa just after yesterday morning and reported that the home was half involved in flame with heavy smoke coming from the roof. Thirteen firefighters were on scene and it didn’t take long to bring the fire under control but there was an extensive overhaul process. The fire destroyed most of the front of the house and damaged two vehicles parked nearby. Paola Fire Chief Andy Martin says the home’s resident was in South Dakota because of a medical emergency at the time of the fire.
The home was reportedly vacant Thursday morning except for two dogs and a cat. Fire officials reported that they found one dog deceased in the home, and the other two animals are believed to still be in the debris. Martin says they don’t know the cause of the fire; however, it will be under investigation by the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office.
