Riley Co., Kan. — At 11:12 p.m. Wednesday night July 6th, Riley County Fire District #1 (RCFD#1) was dispatched to a structure fire located at 13490 Fancy Creek Road in Randolph, Kansas. Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke coming from the attic, roof vents, and eaves of the home.
A total of 23 volunteer firefighters and RCFD#1 personnel responded on 9 apparatus. Personnel remained on scene until 3:00 a.m. July 7th.
This fire started in the attic and was caused by a lightning strike. The home was occupied at the time of the fire but no injuries have been reported. The preliminary damage estimate for structure and contents is at least $100,000.
“There was a large amount of lightning in the north part of the county last night,” said Deputy Fire Chief Doug Russell. “The lightning strike at this home shorted wiring and ignited attic rafters and insulation. Thankfully, we were able to gain access to the attic from inside the home as well as through the roof to attack and extinguish the fire. We’re grateful that no one was injured and the structure is still standing.”
Riley County Fire District #1 is the largest consolidated volunteer fire department in the state with 120 volunteers and 15 fire stations throughout the county. RCFD#1 is currently accepting applications for a variety of volunteer roles. Anyone interested in joining the department can learn more online at www.rilecountyks.gov/fire or by calling (785) 537-6333 during regular business hours. Follow RCFD#1 on Facebook /RCFD1, Twitter @RileyCoFire, and Instagram RileyCoFire.
