Fires force two families out into the cold
The smell of smoke awakened a family of seven shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of north Poplar.
"Several of the occupants of the house left with their pajamas and no shoes on. They were outside in the cold," said Joe Bickel, Wichita Fire Battalion Chief.
Bickel said the family was put into a vehicle to warm up once crews arrived on the scene.
Firefighters had to knock portions of the ceiling and walls down to get to the fire, which had worked into the attic of the home.
Damage is estimated at $25,000. The American Red Cross is assisting the family with a place to stay. No injuries were reported in the fire.
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The second house fire was in the 7700 block of S. Laura.
Sedgwick County Fire Captain Judd Brackeen said that when firefighters arrived, a man and his nephew were fighting the fire.
"They tried to put it out themselves. I'm not sure how they were notified," said Brackeen. "They said they couldn't get it put out. That's when they decided to call."
Brackeen said the fire started on the outside of the home.
"It got into the siding of the structure and up into the soffit," Brackeen said.
The cause and damage estimate were not available.
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