Fire guts vacant house east of Prairie Village City Hall

An early morning fire destroyed a home in the neighborhood east of Prairie Village City Hall, ruining a renovation in progress that neighbors had been eagerly awaiting.

Vacant for two years, the home at 3418 W 77th Terrace was being remodeled by the family of its last resident in preparation for a sale.

Neighbors called 911 shortly after 4 a.m. when they spotted flames shooting from the building. Crews from Consolidated Fire District No. 2 were on the scene within minutes, one neighbor said.

Battalion Chief Tony Lopez said a total of four units responded to the scene and were able to extinguish the fire. The structure is a total loss, he said.

“It went fast,” said a woman who lives across the street. “It’s sad, because we were looking forward to having new neighbors.”

Lopez said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but it appears to have been an accident.