10:55 a.m. February 18
Investigators have determined the fire to be accidental but the specific cause cannot be determined, according to a press release from the City of Hays Tuesday.

Investigators stated the fire started inside the attached garage and spread into the attic of the house and to the vehicle parked outside in the driveway.

A team of investigators from the City of Hays Police Department, City of Hays Fire Department and Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office all took part in the investigation.

 

Investigators are working on determining the cause of a fire at a home in Hays.

“Thankfully, no one was hurt,” said Hays Police Department Detective Dave Bunger.

According to a press release, the fire started at 3:37 a.m. Monday.   The city of Hays Fire Department, assisted by the Ellis County Rural Fire Department, Hays Police Department and Ellis County EMS, were dispatched to a building fire at 3502 Fairway Drive.

The first firefighters arrived at 3:44 a.m. and found a fire in the attached garage of a large single-family dwelling with fire spreading into the attic and the living areas. A vehicle was also on fire in the driveway. Nearby property also was threatened by wind-blown items.

The occupants were awakened by a smoke alarm and were able to escape the building before the arrival of firefighters. They were transported to Hays Medical Center by Ellis County EMS.

A total of 22 Hays firefighters staffing five fire trucks and four Ellis County Rural firefighters staffing one fire truck responded. Three hose lines were needed to control the fire. The building suffered heavy fire damage.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. A team of investigators from the HPD, HFD and the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating.

The HFD said the fire serves as a reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms, which cut the risk of a fire becoming deadly by half.