Firefighters say smoke alarms alerted an elderly resident of a house fire just after midnight Wednesday, allowing her to escape unharmed.
Overland Park and Lenexa firefighters responded to the 8900 block of Craig Drive, a few blocks west of Metcalf Avenue, at 12:09 on Wednesday morning.
Overland Park Fire Department spokesperson Jason Rhodes said crews arrived to report heavy smoke and fire from the garage of a single-story, single-family home with everyone reported to be outside safely.
Rhodes said firefighters quickly worked to knock down the fire while others searched inside to confirm that everyone was out.
“One adult female was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation and minor injuries,” Rhodes said in a news release. “She reports being awakened by her smoke alarms and self-evacuating.”
At the scene, a neighbor told a Post reporter that the resident of the house is in her mid-90s.
Rhodes said a neighbor quickly helped the woman into another home to escape the winter storm.
The woman was treated by firefighters and paramedics inside the neighbor’s home. She did not want to go to a hospital by ambulance, according to authorities.
It took about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control.
It’s unclear if the high winds from the overnight winter storm caused or contributed to the fire.
“While it appears the fire may have started from a downed power line in the rear of the home, the exact cause is under investigation,” Rhodes said. “Fire significantly damaged the garage, but the entire home suffered moderate smoke damage.”
Rhodes said the resident of the house will be staying with family.
