CAPTION: Hutchinson firefighters respond to a commercial fire structure at 4th Ave. and Bonebrake St. Tuesday morning. CREDIT HFD
UPDATE: The Reno County Coroner’s Office has informed the Hutchinson Fire Department of the identity of the deceased in the commercial fire that occurred Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m.
The victim has been identified as Bret Fallis, a resident of Hutchinson. Firefighters discovered Mr. Fallis in one of the impacted storage units when they responded to the alarm. The exact cause of death has not been released at this time.
The Hutchinson Fire Department has completed its investigation into the fire’s origins. The fire originated in the unit where Mr. Fallis was present. After investigation, the fire’s cause was
determined to be improper discarding of smoking materials, igniting combustible materials in the storage unit.
The Hutchinson Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire located at 4th Ave. and Bonebrake St. shortly after 8:00 a.m. Tuesday.
The Hutchinson Police Department had already arrived on the scene and reported visible smoke. Upon arrival, initial fire units discovered that one of eight storage facilities, each measuring 30′ by 220′, was filled with smoke. Fire crews were required to forcibly enter several compartments of the storage unit, cutting numerous locks and doors. Crews initiated an aggressive attack on four units actively involved in the fire.
While extinguishing the flames, crews unfortunately discovered one fatality in a unit where the individual appeared to be residing. The Hutchinson Fire Department’s Fire Marshal is currently investigating the cause of the fire. Concurrently, the Reno County Coroner’s Medical Investigator is examining the cause of death and working on identifying the deceased. The property owner has been informed and will notify the affected storage unit tenants.
Crews will remain on site for several hours this morning. The building sustained moderate damage to four units, and 75% of the remaining units suffered smoke damage. No firefighter injuries have been reported. Notifications to the deceased’s family will be made following positive identification.
