Riley County Fire District #1

Riley County Fire District #1 responded to a report of a structure fire at 1809 South Manhattan Ave at approximately 4:40 pm on Friday, February 28. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a two-story residence south of the City of Manhattan. Within 10 minutes of the call, volunteer firefighters arrived and made entry to aggressively combat the fire. 

Tragically, one dog perished in the fire, while another was found alive. All occupants of the home were able to exit safely, and no other injuries were reported. Damage to the structure and contents is estimated at $200,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Riley County Police Department. 

“It is heartbreaking to see the loss of a pet and the significant damage to the home. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our firefighters. They kept this from becoming a wildfire and spreading to other homes,” said Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “We sincerely thank our dedicated volunteer firefighters for their quick response and tireless efforts in battling this fire.”

A total of 32 firefighters responded on 12 apparatus to the incident, and responders remained on scene mopping up hot spots, including a grass fire outside the residence, for several hours.