Kansas City firefighters battle blaze at apartment complex near 80th and Troost
Two people jumped from the third story of a building to escape a fire that engulfed an apartment complex Monday night near 80th and Troost.
They were transported to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, said Kansas City Fire Department assistant fire chief Jimmy Walker.
The fire was reported at 8:05 p.m. at the Waldo Heights Apartments, 8024 Troost Avenue.
Dozens of emergency vehicles lined Troost as large plumes of smoke and flames poured from the building’s top floor.
The fire department said there were initially reports of people trapped on balconies of the three-story building. Crews rescued at least one person by ladder.
Firefighters searched the first and second floors, and most of the third floor.
“Eventually the roof started to collapse on the third floor so we pulled everybody out,” Walker said. “We don’t have any reports right now of anybody in there.”
Walker said they were hindered by road access issues and a lack of fire hydrants in the area.
Six fire trucks, eight pumpers and six ambulances responded, said fire department spokesman Jason Spreitzer.
The Red Cross also responded to the scene to assist displaced residents.
Crews battled the fire from an exterior, or defensive position, for several hours. The building was a complete loss, said Spreitzer.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
This story was originally published December 28, 2020 at 9:16 PM.
