Firefighters responded to the Foxhole Paintball and Airsoft business just north of Grandview Plaza about 4:30 a.m. Thursday after a 911 call was received.
According to Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges approximately 15 firefighters using four fire trucks responded to the business on Upham Road where they found smoke coming out of the building. There were no injuries, but he reported that there was a lot of heat damage to contents inside the business and minor damage to the building.
Berges indicated authorities believe the fire was electrical in nature.
Both the Geary County Rural Fire and Grandview Plaza Fire Departments responded to the blaze. They were able to depart the scene about 6:10 a.m.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies – today applauded Senate passage of S.2372, The John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks, or VA MISSION Act, of 2018, by a vote of 92-5.
Following passage, Sen. Moran released the following statement:
“I’m proud the Senate overwhelmingly supported this legislation that empowers our veterans and provides our nation’s heroes with the timely and quality healthcare they deserve. It has been an honor to work alongside my friend and colleague Senator John McCain to reform access to community care in the VA and to provide greater choice for veterans. Named after Senator McCain, the VA MISSION Act includes provisions we have both pursued to establish access and quality standards for veteran eligibility to care in the community and strategic planning to improve the VA’s integrated healthcare system. I look forward to the president signing this bill as we celebrate Memorial Day.”
Manhattan, Kan., May 23, 2018 — Fire investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Manhattan Fire Department, have determined the fire that occurred on May 22, 2018, at 1117 Mid-Campus Drive, Hale Library, was accidental due to the roofing operations that were being conducted.
A damage estimate has not been created due to the unknown amount of smoke and water damage throughout the structure. Assistance from Kansas State University will be needed to determine an accurate loss amount once an assessment of the building and contents is complete.
The building has been turned back over to Kansas State University. Hale Library will remain closed until further notice.
Ryan Almes, Manhattan Fire Department
MANHATTAN — Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Manhattan Fire Department are continuing their work to determine the cause of Tuesday’s fire at Hale Library.
Crews fighting Tuesday fire-photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department
According to Ryan Almes with the Manhattan Fire Department, at 4:10 p.m, Fire crews were dispatched to 1117 Mid-Campus Drive, Hale Library, on the Kansas State University campus for a report of smoke on the fourth floor. Upon arrival, crews found a four-story section of the building with smoke showing from the roof. The fire reached a third alarm before it was contained in approximately two hours and controlled in four hours. A total of 70 firefighters responded on 12 fire apparatus with the last units still on scene Wednesday morning. No injuries were reported to occupants or firefighters. Hale Library will be closed until further notice.
Hale Library is the main Kansas State University library. It was dedicated in 1997 after a multiyear renovation and expansion project of the original campus library building, Farrell Library, which opened in 1927. Hale Library has more than 400,000 square feet of space and has more than two million books in its collection. The fire occurred in the roof of the original Farrell Library, in an area containing several large air handling units and proved very difficult for firefighters to gain access to extinguish the fire. Damage estimates are not available at this time. Fire damage was limited to a portion of the roof, with extensive water and smoke damage throughout the structure.
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UPDATE:
Firefighters were called to Hale Library at K-State about 4:10 p.m.Tuesday after receiving a report of smoke in the top floors of the library and the alarms had sounded. The building was evacuated and no one was injured.
That information was provided by Jeff Morris, Vice President for Communication and Marketing at KSU, who said the Manhattan Fire Department and Riley County Police Department initially responded to the scene. “Started to fight the fire and then as the evening progressed they brought in additional forces. At the peak we’ve had about 70 people fighting the fire.” Other Departments sending assistance included the Fort Riley Fire Department, Blue Township, Riley County EMS and the Red Cross also provided support for the firefighters.
Morris said the fire occurred in the old Farrell portion of the library. “It was in the top floor somewhere between the top floor and the roof.” Authorities believe the fire occurred in the attic area, and Morris confirmed there was a lot of smoke and water damage. “We saw a lot of smoke. They had to fight the fire from the roof. They had to go to the roof and come in from the outside. They were not effective trying to do it from inside.” Seven fire department ladder trucks to help firefighters get up to the roof area to battle the blaze.
The fire was contained and the building will remain closed until further notice. No one was injured. “We have notified the employees they do not need to report to work tomorrow. Once we get into the building we’ll be able to ascertain the damage, start the rescue operation for a lot of materials. We store a lot of valuable things in our library, so we’re going to go through and ascertain what we can save and what we need to do and then what we need to do next in terms of mitigation for the damage.”
The cause of the blaze and the damage estimate are still unknown. Morris noted they were fortunate that the fire was mostly contained to one part of the building.
Morris said officials were glad that classes were not in session so campus is not highly populated at the present time….a good thing in terms of the safety of people. “It was a very orderly evacuation and the systems worked as they were supposed to, which is a good thing.”
The Farrell Library portion of the building was built in 1927.
( Photos courtesy of Ashley Warren and Scott Olesky )
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MANHATTAN —Crews have contained the fire at Hale Library on the Kansas State University campus. The building will remain closed until further notice.
Crews on the scene of Tuesday’s fire at KSU’s Hale Library
Seventy firefighters and emergency personnel combined were on the scene from multiple departments battling the fire at library Tuesday.
They include Fort Riley, and Manhattan Fire Department. No injuries have been reported. The building was evacauted.
Firefighters were focused on extinguishing the top of the blaze at the northeast corner of the building.
There is no word on what caused the fire.
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Fire crews from Manhattan and Fort Riley responded to the scene of a fire at Hale Library on the K-State campus in Manhattan.
No injuries were reported. The building was evacuated late Tuesday afternoon.
GEARY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Wednesday in Geary County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Chevy van driven by Samuel Gary Lowry, 29, Topeka, was southbound on Kansas 177 ten miles south of Interstate 70;
The van left the roadway, entered the west ditch, struck a culvert, went airborne and had a hard landing.
Lowry was transported to the hospital in Manhattan. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club has donated $150 to Ellie Dillon and Desiree Roles-Brown for their work with the Junction City Little Theatre Summer Workshops for youth 2-12.
The Club met Wednesday morning at the Hampton Inn meeting room.
The members of the Junction City Community Band will perform patriotic music selections as part of the Geary County Veterans Alliance Memorial Day program.
The program is scheduled on Monday, may 28th, at 10 a.m. at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Tuesday in Pottawatomie County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy passenger car driven by Jennifer M. Rogers, 43, St. George, was westbound on U.S. 24.
The driver attempted to turn south onto Rockenham Road, fail to yield, and was struck by an eastbound 2018 Dodge passenger vehicle driven by Scott L. Moses, 30, Topeka.
Rogers was transported to the hospital in Manhattan. Moses was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Geary County Commissioner Ben Bennett has filed for reelection to a fourth four-year term on the governing body. He is seeking reelection to the 1st District seat on the commission.
Geary County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke confirmed Bennett filed for election in her office on Tuesday.
Someone put up this bill board on the north side of Interstate 70 near exit 298 in Geary County.
Assistant Manhattan City Manager Kiel Mangus stated city officials would like to get it down. “People have freedom of speech to put up what they want.” Chuckling a bit he added, ” Just put out there that we are not Communists in the City of Manhattan.”
Mangus also stated, “Not sure exactly what that’s ( billboard ) about, but we would like to see it come down if possible. ”
JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Geary County Schools USD 475 officials announced several changes for the Ware Elementary School and District which will begin this summer. Following the direction of the Board of Education, USD 475 Administration created a “District Leadership Mentor” position to provide support and mentorship to USD 475 principals.
This new position will assist building and district leaders in working with staff, students, and parents to achieve the mission and vision of Geary County Schools USD 475. The mentor will provide guidance and assistance for setting up and managing systems, provide support for organizing, administering, supervising, and evaluating programs and initiatives, provide feedback and guidance for professional development initiatives, and more.
Dr. Deb Gustafson, principal of Ware Elementary School, will take on the role of mentor on July 31, 2018. Alicia Scofield, the current assistant principal for Ware Elementary School, will become the acting principal with support from Dr. Gustafson as needed for the 2018/2019 school year.
Firefighters responded to the Foxhole Paintball and Airsoft business just north of Grandview Plaza about 4:30 a.m. Thursday after a 911 call was received.
