Fatal fire at homeless camp near Topeka Rescue Mission

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - One person died early Friday morning in a fire that happened at a homeless camp near the Topeka Rescue Mission.

Topeka police said the fire was originally reported as a brush fire just east of TRM and north of the Kansas River. Firefighters arrived and found it was a homeless camp structure, not a brush fire.

When responders put out the fire, they found a person dead inside the structure.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but preliminary findings released by the Topeka Fire department have listed the cause of the fire as undetermined. The estimated damage from the fire has not been released yet.

Staff from the Shawnee Co. Coroner’s Office will determine the victim’s identity and release that information when able.

Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved.