Improper smoking materials disposal sparked blaze that killed Brandon Harries: officials

The improper disposal of smoking materials sparked a Nov. 10 fire that resulted in the death of a resident of a North Topeka apartment building, said Rosie Nichols, public safety communications specialist for Topeka's city government.

The fire started on a chair on a second-floor balcony of that building, Nichols told The Capital-Journal on Wednesday.

Brandon J. Harries, 42, died Nov. 15 at a Kansas City, Kan., hospital, according to his obituary, which identified him as being a married father of six.

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Damages were estimated at $1.5 million

Harries was among two victims of the fire, which was reported shortly after 8 p.m. Nov. 10 at 115 N.W. Redbud Circle. The three-story building is located in an area just north of Soldier Creek.

The blaze did an estimated $1.5 million damage to the structure and its contents, said Topeka Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.

The fire also caused injury to a woman whose name hasn't been made public. She was taken to a Topeka hospital. Her condition wasn't considered life-threatening.

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All others in the 10 occupied apartments were able to evacuate the building, Stahl said. The fire did an estimated $1.5 million in combined structural and content damage, he said.

No further details were being released.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Cause revealed for apartment fire that caused death of Brandon Harries