Two people were injured — one severely enough to be transferred out of town — in a fire Tuesday afternoon at 202 S. Congress St.
Emporia Fire Chief Jack Taylor said the Emporia Fire Department was notified of the fire around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Taylor said fire department personnel were at Newman Regional Health for training when the emergency room alerted fire personnel that they had two burn victims from the residence. The victims weren’t sure if the fire was out so the fire department was dispatched to the home. Taylor said the fire was out when crews arrived. The fire was confined to the living room of the home.
Emporia Fire Marshal Tom Andrews said this morning the fire apparently was a smoking accident. Carolyn and Larry Gumfory were at home at the time. Larry Gumfory was taking a nap on the couch and Carolyn Gumfory was in an easy chair. Larry Gumfory received burns from putting the fire out on his wife. Andrews said there was very little damage to the home.
“There were a couple of burn marks on the carpet,” he said.
Newman Regional Health reported this morning that Larry Gumfory was treated and released and Carolyn Gumfory was transferred to another hospital. The Newman spokesperson declined to say which hospital.