Large fire breaks out in Kansas City, Kan., commercial building

Kansas City, Kan., firefighters doused a two-alarm fire Thursday afternoon that sent black smoke billowing skyward from the ACH Foam Technologies plant and warehouse.

The fire was reported about 1:40 p.m. Thursday in the 80,000-square-foot facility in the 1400 block of North Third Street. About 60 employees working at the site evacuated safely.

The smoke wafted east across the river and over downtown Kansas City before firefighters dampened the flames.

The fire started in a large amount of polystyrene insulation materials, said Fire Chief John Paul Jones. Firefighters using an aggressive interior attack knocked down the flames, which had spread up toward the roof.

Flames also got close to large propane tanks on the property. Fire crews doused the tanks with water to cool them and prevent a rupture, Jones said.

The Fire Department brought in its airboat to use the large fan to clear smoke from the building, he said.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 2:01 PM.