Fire in southeast Kansas town claims life of business owner
ALTAMONT, Kans. — The Kansas State Fire Marshal and Kansas Bureau of Investigation are trying to determine what caused a deadly fire in Altamont last night.
Around 10 pm, firefighters were called to a fire at 518 and 520 South Huston Avenue in downtown Altamont. When fire fighters arrived on scene they said the structure was fully engulfed.
The owner of the business, Edward Escolas, 61, was found dead at the scene. Officials have not yet said what his cause of death was.
Escolas owned a motorcycle shop at that location where he built bikes and repaired them.
Due to the intensity of the fire, Altamont fire called in mutual aid from several other departments including Parsons, Edna, Hackberry (Bartlett), Labette 9, Mound Valley, Osage (Dennis), Oswego, Cherryvale, Neosho Township and Coffeyville Fire Departments. The Labette County Sheriff's Department also assisted with traffic control.
The investigation into what caused the fire and the cause of Escolas' death is ongoing.