Early investigative work has not determined a cause of the house fire at 730 Kansas Highway 99 in Olpe on Saturday.
Fire at the home of Suzan Stroup-Reed was first reported around 6:30 pm Saturday, triggering a rapid response from Olpe, Emporia, Lyon County Rural and Hartford-Neosho Rapids firefighters and Lyon County deputies.
Fire had already destroyed the interior, all the contents inside and much of the exterior, but a rekindle developed early Monday morning. Olpe Fire was dispatched around 6:30 am, finding a “small trouble spot” in a second-floor bathroom. That fire was quickly put out.
The Office of Kansas State Fire Marshal is leading the investigation, and Public Information Manager Lance Feyh says special agents are following the evidence as they sift through the site.
Stroup-Reed has called KVOE News, saying she was living in the home and was out of town when the fire developed. She says she had listed the home on the market as an effort to downsize after the death of her husband.
Previously, the home had been owned by late Olpe Chicken House owners Leonard and Theresa Coble.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for further information as it becomes available.
*Click here for information on Monday’s rekindle.
*Click here for Sunday’s update.
*Click here for Saturday’s initial coverage.
*Click here for KVOE’s YouTube channel, including several videos from Saturday night’s firefighting effort and a YouTube Short from Sunday’s investigation work.
