UPDATE: Noon Monday – The cause of Sunday evening’s fire near Ark City remains undetermined so far, fire Capt. Jim Maxwell said.
No one was inside the residence at the time. Maxwell said the home’s owners had left the house and later returned to find the southwest portion of the structure on fire. They then called for help.
Fire crews were called to the scene around 5 p.m. and were busy working to contain the fire until after 9 p.m. The blaze burned the home’s main level, attic and through the floor into a basement.
"There was substantial damage done to the home," he said.
There is an outside woodburning stove on the home’s west end, though it is unclear yet what if any roll that may have played in the fire, Maxwell said.
Firefighters worked to preserve bedroom areas on the home’s east end so that some belongings might be salvaged, according to family members.
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Fire gutted a home southeast of Arkansas City early Sunday evening.
A cause for the fire was not immediately known, but firefighter crews from Arkansas City and Winfield were at the residence battling a large blaze. There were no reports of injury.
It was apparent, however, that the house would be a total loss.
The home is owned by Frank and Helen Bossi. Family members said the Bossis were not at the residence at the time the fire started, but arrived shortly thereafter. Although the structure is a total loss, firefighters were attempting to protect a bedroom area so hopefully some personal belongings could be retrieved.
The fire was just off 312th Road near the Kaw Wildlife Area.
Check back with NewsCow for more information as it becomes available.
