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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Henderson v. W. C. Haas Realty Management, Inc., 561 S.W.2d 382 (1977)

Citation
Henderson v. W. C. Haas Realty Management, Inc., 561 S.W.2d 382 (1977)
Parent Document
Henderson v. W. C. Haas Realty Management, Inc., 561 S.W.2d 382 (1977)
Jurisdiction
Missouri (state)
Effective Date
1977-12-05

Other Sections in This Document (52)

Full Text

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Overland Park Fire Chief, James Broock-erd, arrived at the scene at 5:00 a. m., and saw that the front whole hallway, about 8 feet wide, which ran from the front to the rear of the building “was involved in, the flame was just rolling in there and . . ” This meant that the flames were generating a lot of heat, but the flames were knocked down with two 1½ inch hoses in less than 30 seconds. Later, Chief Broock-erd opened the basement door and then knew where the fire was because he could hear it popping and cracking to his right, or horthwest, which was the washing machine and storage area. The firefighters reported that the fire was above them in the basement lapping or seeping out of the sheet-rock here and there. From the color of the smoke, Chief Broockerd testified that it was a wood and insulation fire, and he determined that the fire was running through the floors and up through the walls, but it was not visible for over two hours, as confirmed by the resultant collapse of the building. After two hours, the floor of the first floor apartment northwest, above the laundry and storage area, first fell in, and then the first floor southwest fell in. From all the facts, Chief Broockerd determined that the fire had been in the basement inter-ceiling area in the northwest corner (8337) above the storage and laundry common area. He testified further: “Q Chief, now, of the electric wires, the water pipes and vent pipes that run through the floors and up the walls, which one of those systems is capable of starting fires? A Well, just the electric ones. Q Now, if this is an all electric building, with electric water heaters in each one with wires running through the walls and to each and every apartment, does that have a tendency to increase the amount of wires in that building? A Yes, sir, it would.”