By Ryan Almes

Deputy Chief Manhattan Fire Department

  (Manhattan, Kan., April 14, 2026) — At 6:13 a.m. on Tuesday, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 509 Pierre St. for a report of a structure fire. Upon arrival, crews found a two-story residential building with smoke and flames showing from the second floor, and two persons on the porch roof. 

A passerby had put up a ladder, climbed onto the porch roof, and helped an occupant out of a second-floor window and onto the porch roof.  The driver of Quint 2 raised a fire department ladder, allowing the two to come down.  Firefighters then entered the building to search for another occupant reported to be trapped inside.  Firefighters found the person unconscious on the second floor and quickly removed them from the building. Both occupants of the second-floor apartment were transported by Riley County EMS.

There were four occupants of the building in total, with two escaping the first-floor apartment fire prior to the fire department’s arrival.  The passerby was uninjured.  One dog was transported by Riley County Animal Control to Kansas State Vet Med.  Two dogs and a cat perished in the fire.

 A total of 18 firefighters responded on 6 fire apparatus, with the last units clearing at around 8:00 a.m.The building is a two-story residential structure with two apartments. Loss is estimated at $50,000 to contents and $75,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Helena Dace of Andover, KS.

The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.  The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office and Riley County Police Department are assisting Manhattan Fire Investigators with the investigation.