KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, fire crews tackled a fire early Wednesday morning at the historic Warwick Theater.
The theater — which was damaged by the flames — first opened in 1914 as a movie theater and has been home to the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre since 2018.
"My first reaction, I couldn't remember how to drive my car," said Karen Paisley, founding artistic director of Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. "It was an absolutely horrible sight to drive up 39th Street and see the Warwick on fire because this is our home."
Crews were called to the scene just before 5 a.m. Wednesday near 39th and Main streets.
Firefighters reported fire and smoke showing from the business on arrival.
Shortly after 5 a.m., crews were ordered off the roof of the building due to its rounded roof construction, per KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.
About 5:13 a.m. firefighters were then ordered out of the building and began fighting the flames from the exterior. They resumed internal operation around 5:25 a.m.
No injuries were reported in the fire, per KCFD.
Paisley says the theater community will do whatever it takes to keep the Warwick Theater alive.
"The whole community has worked on this building. So many people have put so much into it," Paisley said.
