DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a restaurant in Lawrence.
Just after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM) crews were dispatched to a reported fire at a restaurant at 815 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence, according to a media release. This building houses Cielito Lindo, a Mexican restaurant that has operated at this location for nearly two decades.
First arriving crews made entry into the structure to confirm that no occupants remained and to initiate fire suppression operations. After completing a rapid search of the structure, deteriorating interior conditions necessitated a transition to a “defensive” strategy which limits fire suppression activities to exterior positions.
Aerial apparatus were located on two sides of the building to provide elevated water streams. Additional handlines (hoses operated by firefighters) were placed into operation around the building, including in the alley.
815 New Hampshire shares a common wall with the building located at 811 New Hampshire and crews entered this structure to check for any fire extension. No extension was found, but some water from fire suppression efforts did seep through the wall. Several streets in downtown Lawrence were closed overnight due to both hose lines in the street and to provide for a safe working environment for crews.
The fire was extinguished by 7:00 a.m., but crews remained on the scene to suppress any remaining hotspots. Investigators from LDCFM’s Fire Investigation Unit will be conducting a fire origin and cause investigation. One LDCFM firefighter reported a minor injury related to this incident and there were no civilian injuries reported.
While fire operations were ongoing at 815 New Hampshire, a separate structure fire was reported at 3:35 a.m. in the 700 block of Illinois Street in Lawrence. An LDCFM crew arrived to find a working fire in a single-family residence. In addition to LDCFM personnel and equipment, an engine, quint (fire apparatus with an aerial ladder), and battalion chief from Overland Park Fire Department (OPFD) also responded to the scene as part of a mutual aid request that had been made to provide additional coverage in Lawrence. The OPFD resources had been staged at LDCFM’s Station 5 and arrived on the scene shortly after the first unit.
Though this fire was quickly extinguished, four residents were displaced from the building. An LDCFM investigator determined the cause of this fire to be electrical in nature. No civilians were injured, but one LDCFM firefighter was evaluated at the scene for minor injuries.
LDCFM would like to remind people to not drive past “road closed” signs and to never drive over fire hose. Unauthorized traffic in and around fire scenes is extraordinarily dangerous for firefighters and damaged hoses can both delay fire suppression and injure firefighters.