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Fire officials: person found in Haynesville apartment died before Feb. 9 fire; exhaust fan malfunction caused blaze
Summary
Fire Chief Long told the public safety committee investigators and the Johnson County medical examiner determined the person found at the Haynesville apartment "died prior to the events of the fire," and the blaze was caused by a malfunction in or near the bathroom exhaust fan. He also summarized community outreach and training efforts.
The Overland Park Public Safety Committee heard from Fire Chief Long that investigators, coordinating with the Johnson County medical examiner, determined the person found deceased in the Feb. 9 Haynesville apartment incident "died prior to the events of the fire." Chief Long said the department's fire investigators identified the fire's origin as "a malfunction in or near that apartment bathroom exhaust fan."
Chief Long told the committee the initial report had characterized the incident as a fatal fire, but subsequent investigation revised that finding after medical examiners reviewed the case. He also summarized recent department outreach: the department hosted an April 18 educational open house at the fire training center attended by more than 400 residents, partnered with the University of Kansas Health athletic training division for MACE skills and simulations for athletic-related trauma, and provided coverage and honor guard support for a Lenexa firefighter funeral.
"We did put that out" about the revised finding, Chief Long said, describing coordination with the medical examiner's office. The chief said the department is conducting a formal performance improvement analysis (PIA) to learn from the incident and that crews "handled themselves very well on scene with the conditions that they were faced with."
The committee thanked firefighters for their response and for community outreach efforts. No formal action was taken on the Haynesville investigation; Chief Long said the PIA will guide any internal changes.
