Kansas City firefighters rescued three residents from a burning apartment in the Independence Plaza neighborhood

By Robert A. Cronkleton
The Kansas City Star

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Firefighters rescued three people, one of whom was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, while battling an apartment fire Wednesday night in Kansas City’s Independence Plaza neighborhood, according to a fire department spokesman.

Firefighters responded shortly after 10 p.m. to the Olive Park Village apartments in the 800 block of Park Avenue, said Battalion Chief Riley Nolan with the Kansas City Fire Department.

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Arriving firefighters reported smoke and fire coming from a two-story apartment, Nolan said. Fire crews initiated an offensive fire attack, advancing multiple hose lines to battle the flames.

A firefighter fell through the first floor into the basement and a mayday was called, Nolan said. The firefighter was able to get out of the building on their own and uninjured.

Fire crews searched the apartment building, but found no one else inside.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Kansas City’s dangerous building division was requested to respond to the scene, Nolan said.

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