KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A fire destroyed a building in east Kansas City on Tuesday morning and led to a fire response lasting several hours.
Fire investigators said the incident began around 9 a.m. at a building on Raytown Road used for equipment storage.
Throughout the morning, plumes of white and black smoke billowed from the site as firefighters worked to put out the flames.
Just got to scene of fire on Raytown Rd. Black smoke billowing out shortly ago. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/ftSyCdm627
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) March 20, 2018
The fire led to concern for neighbors close by, including one woman who ran to help her friend next door.
“I was scared that something in (the building) was explosive,” explained Bianca Davis, who lives near the site. “I had to wake (a friend) up and get the baby up to make sure they were aware of what’s going on across the street.”
Firefighters just cut out some of the wall at the building where fire was reported this morning on Raytown Rd pic.twitter.com/NpsLfkLaRM
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) March 20, 2018
Hours after the fire began, crews were still at the site after flames reignited several times throughout the day.
Records showed the building once operated as a strip club before a forklift and equipment leasing company took over the site.
Neighbors said they rarely saw anyone there.
“There’s just rollers and stuff like that in the front and a bunch of junk,” explained Joyce Bess, who lives a few homes down from the building.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation as of Tuesday evening.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
Quick update: Fire near Raytown Rd appears mostly out. Crews leaving scene pic.twitter.com/JsCU88Jf5O
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) March 20, 2018
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