KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Everyone who lived at the Waldo Heights Apartments, which were the site of a massive fire Monday evening, has been accounted for, according to federal officials.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sent a national response team to Kansas City, Missouri, to begin processing the scene.
The first priority was to work with the KCFD Urban Search and Rescue Team to ensure there were no victims inside the structure and to brace floor joists on the second and third floors, where most of the fire damage occurred, to make it safe for investigators.
The plan is to identify where the fire burned hottest and longest, because that’s probably the point of origin, a spokesman for the ATF Kansas City Field Division told 41 Action News.
Investigators got their first look inside the damaged building around 4 p.m. and will be back Thursday for an all-day investigation.
The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City and Northwest Missouri continues to work with the residents — as many as 30 families — who were displaced by the fire.
“Last night, Red Cross provided lodging for 32 people who had no place to go and we will continue offering assistance in the days ahead,” Randee Krumwiede, executive director of the Greater Kansas City chapter, said in a statement. “We also provide meals and additional help including connecting them to local partners.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the Red Cross mission or sign up to volunteer is asked to visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS for more information.
