One dead, another injured after jumping out of window to escape house fire

TECUMSEH, Kan. (WIBW) - One person has died and another was injured after they had to jump out of a second floor window Sunday night to escape a house fire in Tecumseh.

The Shawnee Heights Fire Department responded to the blaze around 11:15 p.m. on December 11 at 7240 SE 2nd St.

“Information from dispatch was that we had flames coming out on the first floor and, en route to the call, our first end engine radioed that they could see smoke and flames from about a mile away,” Balsmeier continued saying, “At which point we called for some mutual aid partners for water supply.”

Firefighters from the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA) and Soldier Township Fire Department were called in to help. Fire crews were forced to battle the blaze from outside of the home and remained on scene much of the night.

Fire Battalion Chief Ken Balsmeier said flames were coming from the two-story home when they arrived and a person was seen jumping from the second floor to escape. He said that person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Balsmeier said they were told another person was inside the home at the time, but they could not get to them due to the strength of the fire. After authorities put out the fire they were able to search the home and confirmed that person was found dead inside.

There is no word yet on what caused the fire. We will update this story as more details become available.

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