Five people, including four children, are confirmed dead in an early Friday morning house fire in Independence.

 

Two adults and three more children are also being treated for life-threatening injuries suffered in the blaze. USD 446 in Independence has also confirmed that two of the children involved were students in the district. The initial call for the fire came in around 6:20 on Friday morning. The Independence Fire Department responded to the scene at 201 South Earl Street on the east side of the City where they found the residence fully engulfed in flames.

 

Multiple agencies assisted with the response, including the Kansas Highway Patrol, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Independence Rural Fire Department, Independence Police, CRMC EMS, and Cherryvale Fire/EMS.

 

Independence Fire Chief Aaron Cook thanked first responders for their work along with the medical staff at Labette Health Independence ER. Cook and the City of Independence expressed their condolences for everyone affected by the tragic loss. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Here is a link to a GoFundMe for the family.

 

Photo courtesy Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office