An Overland Park family were able to escape unscathed after their home caught fire early Friday morning. Jeff Jennings, his wife and their three grandchildren were all home when a fire broke out before 6 a.m. Jennings’ 10-year-old grandson Jason heard glass shattering in his bedroom window, saw the flames and alerted the rest of the family. “He heard something. said. Jennings said it all started when he was struggling to get his smoker going around 3 a.m. Friday morning to cook brisket for a party for former colleagues. Some of the pellets were not in good condition so I was trying to clean them and apparently when I restarted it after a few times an ember I think got into my wet dry vacuum and it’s at that point I think it took,” he said. After firefighters extinguished the flames, the uncooked brisket was still on the smoker’s grill. l. The Overland Park fire confirms that the wet and dry vacuum ignited and caused the blaze.Spokesman Jason Rhodes said that with the winter weather, owners may use fire pits in addition to grills He said spent fuel should be stored in metal containers with lids at least 10 feet from combustible surfaces. “Spent fuel can stay hot for days. And so, it’s really something that you have to deal with carefully,” Rhodes said, discussing the support he received from his neighbors, the Red Cross and the community after the fire. He noted that his youngest grandson’s manager had picked him up and given him shoes to wear. Most of the Jennings family ran outside without shoes in cold weather. “Our community is just awesome. The principal cares enough to pick up the child. The firefighters already have tips to help you. stay,” Jennings said. A claims adjuster has already come to the house to prepare a damage estimate. The Jennings family are staying at a hotel at least temporarily until their situation is sorted out. Rhodes said there were working smoke detectors in the house. He said the blaze is a reminder for everyone to check that the batteries in smoke detectors are working. He also said that any smoke detector over 10 years old should be replaced.
An Overland Park family were able to escape unscathed after their home caught fire early Friday morning.
Jeff Jennings, his wife and their three grandchildren were all home when a fire broke out before 6 a.m.
Jennings’ 10-year-old grandson Jason heard glass shattering in his bedroom window, saw the flames and alerted the rest of the family.
“He heard something. He came downstairs, ‘The house is on fire. The house is on fire,’ and got everybody out,” Jennings said.
Jennings said it all started when he struggled to get his smoker going around 3 a.m. Friday morning to cook brisket for a party for former colleagues.
“I used my wet/dry vac to clean some of the pellets. Some of the pellets weren’t in good condition so I was trying to clean them and apparently when I restarted it after a few times an ember I think I got into my wet and dry vacuum and that’s when I think it took off,” he said.
After firefighters extinguished the flames, the uncooked brisket was still on the smoker’s grill.
Overland Park Fire Department investigators confirm the wet-dry vacuum ignited and caused the fire.
Spokesman Jason Rhodes said with the winter weather, owners may use fire pits in addition to grills. He said spent fuel should be stored in metal containers with lids at least 10 feet from combustible surfaces.
“Spent fuel can stay hot for days. And so it’s really something you have to deal with carefully,” Rhodes said.
Jennings was emotional as he discussed the support he received from neighbours, the Red Cross and the community after the fire. He noted that his youngest grandson’s manager had picked him up and given him shoes to wear. Most of the Jennings family ran outside without shoes in cold weather.
“Our community is just great. The manager cares enough to pick up the kid. The firefighters already have stuff to help. The Red Cross came and helped cover our stay,” Jennings said.
A claims adjuster has already come to the house to prepare a damage estimate. The Jennings family are staying at a hotel at least temporarily until their situation is sorted out.
Rhodes said there were working smoke detectors in the house. He said the blaze is a reminder for everyone to check that the batteries in smoke detectors are working.
He also said that any smoke detector over 10 years old should be replaced.
Cnn
