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Police identify woman killed when fire burned through Kansas City homeless encampment

A body was found early Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in a fire at a homeless encampment near Interstate 70 and Truman Road. The Kansas City Fire Department was called around 6 a.m., said Fire Education Specialist Jason Spreitzer.
A body was found early Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in a fire at a homeless encampment near Interstate 70 and Truman Road. The Kansas City Fire Department was called around 6 a.m., said Fire Education Specialist Jason Spreitzer. jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com

The victim of a deadly fire that broke out at an encampment last week has been identified.

Elizabeth Lindsey, 28, was killed Thursday when a fire swept through a homeless camp near Indiana Avenue and Truman Road beneath an I-70 overpass in the area, police said.

Crews found a body while investigating the cause of the fire. Kansas City police said at the time that no foul play was suspected.

As news of the fire spread, other members of the community who are experiencing houselessness were outraged. That night had been dangerously cold for many.

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The fire temporarily closed the highway leading to downtown Kansas City.

On Sunday, officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation reopened westbound Interstate 70 near East 18th Street following the fire, which significantly damaged bridge girders.

This story was originally published January 19, 2022 at 6:57 AM with the headline "Police identify woman killed when fire burned through Kansas City homeless encampment."

Anna Spoerre
The Kansas City Star
Anna Spoerre covers breaking news for the Kansas City Star. Before joining The Star in 2020, she covered crime and courts for the Des Moines Register. Spoerre is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she studied journalism.
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