A report from a consulting firm is expected to be presented Monday to Wichita and Sedgwick County officials on the emergency response to a fatal 2023 fire at an east Wichita apartment complex.
The firm of Jensen Hughes has been conducting an audit of the 911 and fire response to a blaze that broke out on October 13th, 2023 at the Brookhollow Apartments near Central and Rock Road. The fire resulted in the death of 22-year-old Paoly Bedeski, who had called 911 to report that she was trapped in her upper-level apartment. Attorneys for the Bedeski family said the word never got to fire rescue crews, but Sedgwick County emergency communications officials later said that her comments were unintelligible over the phone.
Wichita and Sedgwick County commissioned an independent, third-party analysis of the response, and the firm of Jensen Hughes was chosen. Jensen Hughes conducted a review of the Wichita Police Department and made a number of recommendations in 2023 for operational improvements.
Wichita Vice Mayor Maggie Ballard said a special meeting will be held by the Sedgwick County Commission on Monday at 9 a.m., and the Wichita City Council will have a meeting at noon. Ballard said the report will be made public as soon as possible. She said the city has not received the report at this time and cannot comment on the findings.
