Update: The fire is now under investigation by both the fire department and the Kansas City Police Department’s arson and bomb unit. Firefighters are battling a large building fire near downtown Kansas City, officials said Tuesday afternoon. A call came in at 12:12 p.m. alerting the Kansas City Fire Department of a fire at 612 Virginia Avenue, near Admiral Boulevard, said Jason Spreitzer, a spokesman with KCFD.
The building used to be a firehouse, according to an April article in the Northeast News highlighting a graffiti artist’s work on the now-empty firehouse 10. Spreitzer later confirmed the firehouse was opened in 1908 and in use until 1932. “Command made a fast decision to create collapse zones and fight this fire defensively,” Spreitzer said.
As of about 1 p.m. fire crews had the building surrounded by ladder trucks and were using multiple large water streams to fight the blaze, he said.
Roads remained closed around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Virginia and Independence avenues and Virginia Avenue and Admiral Boulevard, Spreitzer said.
No injuries were reported within an hour of the call reporting the fire. An investigation into the blaze, including its cause and origin, is ongoing by KCFD and the police department. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Source: Kansas City News
