Great Bend Police and Fire responded to a structure fire Tuesday morning.  The 8:51 a.m. fire occurred at 1108 Morton St.  Neighbor Dave Welch, 1114 Morton St., arrived home and smelled smoke and investigated.  He saw smoke pouring out of the rear of the adjacent house and contacted authorities.  No people were home at the time, but a small dog escaped the fire, according to Great Bend Police.  
According to a statement by GBFD Battalion Chief Eugene Perkins, upon arrival, fire crews found smoke shoeing from the two-story wood-frame home.  The fire was knocked down quickly, but fire personnel remained on scene until 2 p.m. performing salvage and overhaul and investigating the cause of the fire.  Fire damage was confined largely to a bedroom on the first floor; however some fire damage did extend to the second floor.  There was smoke and heat damage throughout the house.
After an investigation, Kansas State Fire Marshalls, Jason Reece and Chris Smith, along with GBFD fire investigator Luke McCormick determined the fire started when a floor joist broke and caused a short in the electrical system.  The fire caused significant damage in excess of $30,000 to the structure.  The home is owned by Chandler Leon and Nicole Dixon.


(updated at 4:34 p.m. June 17, 2014)