A mobile home fire reported about 3:45 a.m. Monday at Coachlight North Village, 137 NE Coachlight Drive, killed 9-year-old Alex Honea and sent six people to the hospital, according to the Daily Dispatch. The park is near U.S. 24 and North Kansas Avenue in North Topeka.
Rescue and hospital response
A woman escaped after the fire began, while a man and two children remained inside, the Daily Dispatch reported. First responders and a neighbor removed the man and one child from the home. The hospitalized group included Alex’s twin brother, Ben, their father, two Topeka police officers, a Topeka firefighter and a neighbor who helped with the rescue. The neighbor was treated, released and returned to the scene, according to the Daily Dispatch.
The Topeka Fire Department identified the officers as Adalberto Sanchez and Matthew Seastrom and the assisting civilians as Chad Coleman, Christine Rancour and Kevin Williams. Fire Chief Chad Longstaff and Police Chief Chris Vallejo praised their actions in a department post.
Family members describe the loss
Chelsea Fisher, a family member, told WSMV that she was in Kansas City when she learned the fire had struck Susan Honea’s home. Fisher said Susan escaped, while Susan’s husband and the boys remained inside until rescuers reached them.
WSMV reported that Alex and Ben had special needs and were due to turn 10 later this month. Ben and his father remained hospitalized after the fire, according to the station. The family also lost its home, and a GoFundMe campaign was established to assist with the recovery.
Fire-safety context
According to the National Fire Protection Association, home structure fires—including fires in manufactured homes—caused 70% of civilian fire deaths and 74% of reported civilian fire injuries from 2019 through 2023. The figures group manufactured homes within the broader home-structure category rather than providing a separate comparison of their fatality or injury rates. The U.S. Fire Administration reported that residential multiple-fatality fires occurred more frequently from midnight to 6 a.m. The agency’s findings reinforce the importance of working smoke alarms and a home fire-escape plan.
Investigation
A preliminary investigation found that the fire was accidental, according to WIBW and WSMV.
