OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Overland Park Fire Investigators found no criminal intent in the fatal Aug. 15 fire that left two children dead at the Colonial Gardens Apartments, a news release said.
The fire injured 7 other people and destroyed two units.
Five-year-old Henry Mendoza-Carter Jr. and his sister, 3-year-old Alexis Mendoza-Carter, were identified as those killed. Neighbors remembered them for their loving, playful spirits.
Henry and Alexis Mendoza-Carter
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 children dead, 7 others hurt in Overland Park apartment fire
The release said investigators worked with insurance investigators and police on the case. To date, they hadn’t found any evidence of criminal intent.
Fire officials found that the fire started in the easternmost area of the living room in a first-floor apartment.
They also identified and considered several possible causes of the fire, including electronics, smoking materials and the possibility of kids playing with fire.
Right now, the cause is listed as undetermined.
Remnants of a smoke detector were found in the apartment, but it’s unknown whether or not it sounded at the time of the fire.
41 Action News previously reported on smoke alarm issues within the complex. OPFD Chief Bryan Dehner told our crews that first-responding firefighters said the closest working smoke detector was a few buildings down the row.
According to the news release, private investigators will test the fire alarm found in the apartment where the fire started to try to determine if it was operational or if it malfunctioned.
While the fire investigation and report are complete, the case will remain open until those test results are in.
