‘Flames were shooting out’: One injured in house fire on Oak Street in Kansas City

One person was taken to a hospital after a house fire Sunday in the 5500 block of Oak Street.

The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the blaze about 3:30 p.m. at a large, two story house.

Battalion Chief Nino Bruno said crews arrived to find heavy fire on the back of the house.

Fire crews found a person on the ground across the street, with burns on their face and hands. “There was intensive heat inside the structure,” Bruno said.

A neighbor, Pat O’Neill, said the smoke coming from the house was intense. “Flames were shooting out the back of the house,” O’Neill said. “The firemen were struggling to get in and out.”

Witnesses said a man had escaped the house tried to reenter it. But a woman passing by restrained him and convinced him to retreat outside.

Neighbors said the homeowner was home alone during the fire and was taken to a hospital.

The fire was under control by about 4 p.m.

This story was originally published November 18, 2018 at 4:32 PM.