Downtown Altamont building fire kills one; council schedules Jan. 9 condemnation hearing

A Nov. 14 structure fire that engulfed buildings at 518 and 520 S. Huston Avenue in downtown Altamont resulted in one fatality, the council learned at its Nov. 26 meeting. The deceased was identified in the minutes as Edward Escolas, 61. The Kansas State Fire Marshall and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation assisted local investigators; the State Fire Marshall investigator informed Police Chief Michael Shields that "the cause and origin of the fire is listed as undetermined," and the preliminary autopsy report listed the cause of death as "smoke inhalation."

City staff described immediate public-safety steps taken after the blaze: police and utilities blocked access, no-trespassing signs were posted, and the city contracted B3 Construction, Inc. to remove loose brick and I-beams from the building front that endangered adjacent properties. The minutes say that work on the building facade was completed on Nov. 20. City Attorney Robert Myers told the council the city needs to render the area safe and has scheduled a public hearing on Jan. 9 to consider condemnation of the properties, which would give owners up to 60 days to complete required work.

Family members and local residents addressed the council. The next of kin (the victim's son) described plans to recover salvageable items and clean the property but said obtaining a death certificate and transferring vehicle titles will take time. Rob Gartner, who also has an interest in the property, told the council he would coordinate with the son and commended the firefighters. Fire Chief Cody Dickerson and Mayor Richard Hayward both thanked mutual-aid departments and city crews for their response. The hearing on condemnation is the next formal step listed in the minutes.