UPDATE: Easterseals Capper Issues Statement On Fatal Fire At Care Home

UPDATE: 9:45 a.m. Friday – Jim Leiker, president and CEO of Easterseals Capper Foundation, issued a statement this morning on the fatal fire at their care home in Ark City.

“Easterseals Capper Foundation has provided services at 705 N. Sixth St. in Arkansas City for many years. We are heart-broken about this tragedy and offer our sincere condolences to the family and staff who were involved in this persons support and care. We ask you to keep all of them in your thoughts and prayers. Also, we offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to the firefighters and emergency workers who responded to the fire.”

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UPDATE: 10 p.m. – One person died Thursday afternoon – and an Ark City group residence for the developmentally disabled was destroyed – as the result of a large structure fire.

A male resident of the home, at 705 N. Sixth, was reached by rescue personnel as the fire raged. He had a pulse when discovered by firefighters making entry, however, he later died, according to Ark City fire chief Bobby Wolfe.

The state fire marshal’s office will conduct an investigation that includes ruling out arson.

“Not that we think it’s arson,” he said. “We just got to rule out that stuff.”

Heavy black smoke poured from the building as the blaze began to burn, just before 4 p.m. It created a thick fog that wafted through the surrounding neighborhood.

One passerby, who drove through the area and stopped, said the smoke was thick enough at times that “I thought I might have to turn on my headlights.”

Wolfe said the fire burned in the front of the residence at first and that allowed time for those inside to escape.

One other resident was taken to a hospital but expected to recover.

Online property records show the 4,000 square-feet residence was owned by The Capper Foundation. Easterseals Capper operates a number of group residences for the developmentally disabled in Ark City and Winfield.

Eventually fire consumed much of the structure, which had an appraised value of nearly $190,000.

A firefighter required medical attention at the scene. Winfield firefighters assisted at the scene. Warm afternoon temperatures added to the challenge of fighting the blaze.

A cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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UPDATE: 5:25 p.m. – Fire officials have confirmed one person has died as a result of the fire in Ark City this afternoon. Another person was hospitalized but expected to recover.

A firefighter also required treatment at the scene.

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Fire broke out this afternoon at a home for the developmentally disabled in Ark City.

Dispatchers issued a total recall of personnel, which basically is an all-hands-on-deck call for emergency responders. A reporter at the scene for NewsCow-KSOK said the structure at 705 N. Sixth had sustained heavy damage. The residence is owned and operated by Easterseals Capper Foundation, formerly CCL.

Ark City firefighters were being assisted at the scene by Winfield fire crews.

At least one person at the scene was requiring emergency medical care.

Few details were immediately available.


(Photo by Brett Coplen)