McPHERSON, Kan. — An early morning fire today caused interior damage to a building in the 1100 block of East Kansas that was part of the original Cedars facility and in recent years has been used by the McPherson Museum for a haunted house during the Halloween season.
McPherson Fire Chief Chad Mayberry said they were called out at 5:23 a.m. after 911 dispatchers received multiple calls of smoke in the area. On arrival, two engine crews made entry and found a fire on the second floor of the structure that had burned through a portion of the floor and ceiling and had extended into the attic.
At this point two additional McPherson fire units responded along with crews from the Galva and Inman Fire Departments. The fire was brought under control just after 7 AM, when mutual aid crews were released from the scene.
The building was vacant at the time, and Chief Mayberry noted the set up of the interior space hampered efforts to access the fire.
A portion of Kansas Avenue was closed for a time to allow fire crews to operate, and McPherson EMS, and the Board of Public Utilities also responded. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but at this time it is believed to have been accidental in nature.
