KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One firefighter was injured and taken via air ambulance to the University of Kansas Hospital after a blaze Monday night at Carpenter Chiropractic Health in Pleasanton, Kansas.
The Kansas State Fire Marshal has requested help from agents with the ATF’s Kansas City office to assist with the investigation, but there is no foul play expected, according to an ATF spokesperson.
The fire, which also damaged an adjacent business, was first reported around 11 p.m.
The firefighter, an adult male, who was injured while trying to bring the fire under control, was in critical condition, according to the ATF.
Officials said the firefighter was a member of the Linn County Rural Fire Department.
There was no update available from KU Hospital.
The ATF plans to examine the scene Wednesday. Fire investigators have been on scene overnight, but the federal agency will bring additional resources, including a national response team.
The Pleasanton and Linn County Rural fire departments, which are volunteer fire departments, both responded to the scene.
The ATF hopes to have a report about the fire available Wednesday afternoon.
The loss of the business, owned by Chase and Tara Carpenter, is devastating to 16-year employee Susie Clearwater.
"We've met a lot of friends and helped a lot of people, and Chase and Tara do a lot for this community, and everybody becomes family," Clearwater said.
The building had a gym attached to the back, which also suffered significant damage.
Clearwater said she's grateful to everyone who has shown support or asked for ways to help. She feels confident the business will return in the future.
In the meantime, she is saddened about the news of a local volunteer firefighter injured.
"We're just keeping him in constant thoughts and prayers," Clearwater said. "They are very trained, very good and this is home for them you know so they try to protect what's theirs."
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