A Home Depot store in Shawnee is closed for the time being following a fire over the weekend.
What we know: Firefighters from four Johnson County departments responded to a fire early Sunday morning at a Home Depot store in Shawnee.
- At about 12:30 a.m., Shawnee Police dispatchers began receiving calls from people driving by the store on Shawnee Mission Parkway, reporting flames from the store located at 15501 West 67th Street.
- The store sits south of Shawnee Mission Parkway between Maurer Road and Lackman Road.
What happened: Arriving police and firefighters reported fire visible from the east side of the building, near the outdoor garden area.
- Police at the scene told the Post that no one was inside the building overnight.
What they’re saying: Shawnee Fire Deputy Chief Corey Sands says the fire was contained to storage racks in the garden center that also houses kerosene.
- “The fire sprinkler system in the garden center activated as designed and kept the fire in check until crews arrived to fully extinguish the fire,” Sands said. “The fire was declared out in about 25 minutes after first arrival.”
- Sands says only the sprinklers in the outdoor garden center activated, and the system inside the building did not need to start.
Damage report: A significant amount of smoke did make it inside the building, enough that Sands says they called in the Lenexa Fire Department for a special giant fan that helps with ventilation.
- “The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and fire investigators are working closely with Home Depot,” Sands said. “The store remains closed while they clean up.”
- Sands says a damage estimate may be available later Sunday.
- No firefighters were injured.
A final thing: A Home Depot corporate spokesperson said the Shawnee store would be closed until further notice as the company cleans up and repairs damages.
Mike Frizzell is a freelance crime and fire reporter who runs Operation 100 News and frequently reports and does photo assignments for the Post.
