HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Fire units remain on the scene of an apartment building fire at 416 West 1st.

When firefighters arrived, the two-and-a-half story structure was fully involved with fire. The building is an old home converted into apartments. Eight people were in the structure when the fire broke out with three apartments in the structure. Two on the first floor and one on the second.

Fire Chief Kim Forbes tells Hutch Post that all eight residents were taken to the hospital, one critical with burns who was eventually transported to Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center. Two others suffered smoke inhalation, one critically and the third serious. The others were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

He says some of the victims were trapped on the second floor and had to be rescued by ladder.

He says when fire starts in these older structures and gets into the walls, it acts like a chimney and the fire spreads quickly.

Fire investigators have determined that the cause of the fire was electrical. Forbes says the building is a total loss.

The Red Cross has been brought in to assist the families involved.

The fire call came in at 4:51 a.m.

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Original Story

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Fire units remain on scene of an apartment building fire in the 400 block of West 1st.

Eight people were in the structure and, according to 911 dispatch, all but one was taken to the hospital for treatment including one that was taken to Via Christi St. Francis.

The structure was fully engulfed when units arrived.

The building may be a total loss.

Crews are still working to determine what caused the fire.

Crews are still working to determine what caused the fire.