WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Four people were injured in an apartment fire early Monday morning.
Flames filled the stairwell of the Kingston Cove apartments as firefighters arrived at the fire around 3 a.m. Monday, near 27th Street South and McLean.
One person was critically injured and taken to an area hospital. Three others were treated at the scene with minor injuries.
A second alarm was called, which brought 45 firefighters from throughout the city to the scene to battle the three-story fire.
A resident living next door to the apartment that caught fire said he was watching a movie when he heard screaming.
He credits the urgency of fire crews for keeping residents safe.
EMS has transported one critical patient from scene of two-alarm apt fire – 500 W 27th St S. Four other non-critical patients treated at scene, but refused transport. #ictfire https://t.co/Vnj9rV7W3q
— WichitaFireDept (@WichitaFireDept) November 1, 2021
“He was telling me how there was a fire. I didn’t quite believe him,” said Francisco Espinoza. “I still was sketched out some, so I grabbed my phone, got a hoodie and looked out the balcony. The whole apartment was on fire.”
The cause of the fire is blamed on candles. One apartment resident took his dog out for a walk, and when he came back, his apartment was on fire.
A total of 12 apartments had fire, smoke and water damage.
