A home near Udall was heavily damaged – and two vehicles were destroyed – in a fire Tuesday morning.
Around 8:30 a.m., Cowley County Fire District 4 – Udall was notified of an attached garage fire at 4657 32nd Rd. northeast of Udall. The home is owned by Nathen and Michelle Hornecker.
Michelle Hornecker was home at the time and was able to escape uninjured. The fire went undetected until the garage was fully ablaze.
Udall fire officials said firefighters arrived to find the roof collapsing with fire pushing into the house. Firefighters were able to get the fire knocked down on the house when it was determined the fire was in the floor truss area between the finished basement and the first floor.
Firefighters exited the house shortly before the floor in the kitchen and living room collapsed into the basement. The loss is estimated at $250,000.
Fire crews from Winfield and Mulvane were dispatched as part of an automatic aid agreement.
Due to normal issues of limited manpower being available during the day time, mutual aid was also requested from Douglass, Atlanta and Belle Plaine.
The building was a total loss, as well as a newer Jeep and a motorcycle in the garage. An official cause of the fire has not been made public, thus far. It is being investigated by the Winfield Fire Dept.
