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Independent review finds multiple systemic shortcomings after Brook Hollow apartment fire
Summary
Jensen Hughes told Sedgwick County commissioners its Oct. 13, 2023 Brook Hollow apartment fire analysis found no single point of failure but multiple system shortcomings across 911 dispatch, fireground operations, and investigations that likely affected rescue timing.
Jensen Hughes presented a post‑incident analysis of the Oct. 13, 2023 Brook Hollow apartment fire that killed Paoli Badesky and injured other residents. The firm said its assignment was to review agency performance and offer systemwide recommendations; its report and presentation to the Sedgwick County commission emphasized that findings are subject to change if new factual material emerges.
"Jensen Hughes found no single point of failure by any of the agencies involved that could be solely attributed to the fatality of Ms. Badesky," the report states. Instead, the firm said, a combination of dispatch audio comprehension, delayed alarm upgrades, uncoordinated fireground actions and investigation gaps produced an "unorganized rescue effort" that likely affected how quickly searches were completed and potentially the victim's chance of rescue.
The team stressed that while improvements could have affected the timing of rescue operations, the report did not conclude the identified shortcomings would have definitively changed the ultimate outcome. Jensen Hughes outlined agency-by-agency recommendations, emphasizing coordinated training, clearer communication protocols and cross‑agency benchmarking to rebuild trust between Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita public‑safety partners.
The presentation and the report were provided to commissioners and the public at the same time; Jensen Hughes said it conducted two site visits, reviewed SOPs/SOGs and interviewed responders as part of the review.
