STILWELL, Kan. – Johnson County fire crews say a man climbed out of his bedroom window of his home Tuesday morning to escape a house fire on the 200 block of Delaware.
An investigator on the scene says the man's split second decision likely saved his life. During a normal house fire, a person has two to three minutes to get out of the home. The longer they stay inside, their chances of surviving drops dramatically. Investigators say the smoke is full of toxins from all the furniture and appliances in the home.
The homeowner Jim Sims says he smelled the smoke and saw an orange glow under his bedroom door around 5 a.m. Sims says he didn't think twice. He grabbed his sheets and blanket and climbed out his window, got in his truck and drove to the fire station. His phone was trapped in the house.
Sims says most of his valuables are in tact but at this point he's unsure if his home is salvageable. He has insurance and plans to stay with family in the short term.
While it's a rough start to the Thanksgiving week, Sims says he's just happy he got out without getting hurt.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Crews used a compressed foam and water combination to put the fire out. Fire District #2 based in Spring Hill is the only department in Johnson County that has all of its units equipped with the combination. Crews say it absorbs water faster than straight water.
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