Two died in Chanute apartment fire; fire cause revealed
CHANUTE, Kan. (KSNW) — Investigators have released the names of two people who died in an apartment complex fire in Chanute last week.
One of the victims was 22-year-old Kalyn Jones. She died at the scene. At first, it was believed she was the only fatality. But two days later, the second victim died. Jolavon Haymaker, 90, had been airlifted to KU Medical Center in Kansas City because of severe injuries. Haymaker died Saturday.
Seven other residents of the apartment complex were also injured. They were treated at a hospital and released.
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The fire at Cornerstone Apartments, 1520 W. 4th Street, was called in at 1:22 a.m. Thursday, March 21.
When Chanute firefighters, police officers and EMS arrived, residents were jumping from windows to escape. Half of the three-story, 24-unit building was engulfed in flames.
The first responders rescued several residents and requested help from fire departments in Parsons, Iola, and Thayer.
The Chanute Fire Department asked the Kansas State Fire Marshal to investigate what started the fire. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sedgwick County Fire Department also helped.
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After more than 140 investigative hours, reviewing evidence at the scene, and interviewing 35 residents and witnesses, the investigators determined the fire started from someone smoking.
“Our investigation determined the cause of the fire at the Cornerstone Apartments was accidental,” Kansas Fire Marshal Mark Engholm said. “The fire started due to carelessly discarded smoking materials on an exterior balcony of the building.”
Strong wind drove the fire up the outside of the building and into an open stairwell. The fire spread quickly and got into the attic before a resident noticed it.
The resident activated the fire alarm as they fled. However, Engholm said the fire destroyed the alarm system wiring shortly after the alarm was activated, and the alarm stopped working.
The Chanute Community Foundation is collecting money to help apartment residents with everything they lost in the fire. Monetary donations may be dropped off at the Chanute Area Chamber, 21 N. Lincoln, and several local banks.
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