Galena Fire Destroys Two Houses - KOAM TV 7

Galena Fire Department crews respond to a large house fire early Saturday morning.

Fire crews received a call at about 1:35 AM, that a home at the corner of 11th street and Euclid street caught fire. Officials say the fire started near the middle of the home and that the family that owns the property moved out about a month ago.

Because of strong winds the fire reached a second vacant property next door.

"It's been condemned it's be vacant for about 5 years now and the proximity of it is about ten foot away from the other ones so with the way the wind was blowing, that radiant heat just grabbed it too" says assistant Fire Chief Stev Hall.

Crews say it took hours to put out the fire because of the wind. The Kansas Fire Marshals Office says the fire is still under investigation.