KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wind and a discarded cigar is being blamed for a house fire that forced a family from their home overnight.
The Overland Park and Leawood Fire Departments were called to the house fire in the 8600 block of W. 142nd Terrace just before 2:30 a.m.
When crews arrived, they found smoke showing from the front door of the single-family home. They located a small fire on the back deck of the home that had spread into the basement.
Crews had the fire under control in just under 20 minutes.
OPFD & Leawood Fire on scene 8600 blk. W.142nd terr. House fire. Minor fire. Fire out. No injuries. More info later. pic.twitter.com/ttqIVozZBm
— Overland Park Fire (@OverlandParkFD) April 27, 2021
Everyone made it out of the home safely and no injuries have been reported.
Investigators believe a cigar discarded on the deck around 9 p.m. was fueled by the high winds and started the fire.
Fire damage was contained to the basement, but firefighters said there is smoke damage throughout the house.
Overland Park Fire said they have responded to several outside fires that last two days that are likely the result of smoking materials being discarded and then re-ignited by high winds.
They said smokers need to completely extinguish smoking materials in sand or water before discarding them.
