Fire official: 2 firefighters killed, 2 hurt in Kansas City

Two Kansas City firefighters died after they were caught in the collapse of an apartment building Monday night.

A clearly emotional Berardi identified the firefighters as 17-year department veteran Larry J. Leggio and 13-year veteran John V. Mesh at a news conference early Tuesday. He says they “did not die in vain”. “They saved two civilians, carried them out of the second floor on ladders, before the wall collapsed”, Berardi told a Kansas City TV station.

Fire Department Battalion Chief James Garrett told the Kansas City Star crews were dispatched to a building on the northeast side of town around 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Firefighters are gathering at the hospital to give support to each other and the families of those firefighters.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those lost and injured and with their peers throughout KCFD”, he said, adding that “the outpouring of condolences has been awesome”.

He also promised to extend all help possible to the families as they grieve. It will be a hard month.

Berardi said it was his worst day as Kansas City fire chief.

“It’s hard when you live with somebody for 24 hours a day, and you’re laughing and joking one minute and then something like this happens in the line of duty”, Berardi said.

We are still working to find out what started this fire. An investigation is ongoing.

On resident who escaped the flames told The Kansas City Star that he was at home when he heard shouts to evacuate.