KC firefighters douse another fire in Parade Park neighborhood amid redevelopment
Fires continue to plague the Parade Park housing complex, as Kansas City firefighters were called to extinguish another fire at one of the complex’s vacant apartment buildings Tuesday night.
Just after 7 p.m., crews responded to the 1500 block of Euclid Avenue, where a two-story vacant apartment was engulfed in heavy fire, according to Kansas City Fire Department spokesperson Michael Hopkins.
Firefighters battled the fire from outside the building after conducting internal operations and searches of the building, Hopkins said. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The historic Black-owned housing cooperative is currently undergoing redevelopment and broke ground in October. The $300 million project headed by city and private developers is planned to bring 1,100 affordable homes to the community.
But the complex has been a target for fires in recent years.
“We had “averaged” about one fire per month over the last 12-18 months up until Thanksgiving. Since Thanksgiving we have responded to 8 working fires at this location,” Hopkins said in a statement to The Star.
The city previously told The Star demolition of the complex was scheduled to begin on Dec. 15.
The Star’s Kendrick Calfee contributed to this reporting.
