Firefighters Dead in Building Collapse

Two other firefighters were hospitalized to be treated for injuries, he said.

The two firefighters were killed overnight when a burning apartment building collapsed. The Star noted that they were clearing an area that had a partially collapsed roof when the structure gave way.

“Initially it looked as if it was a backdraft, but it appears now that the second floor collapsed inside the structure forcing the smoke and fire out the front or the A side of the structure”, Chief Berardi said. Generously, he said there would be time and ways for Kansas City to reach out to the bereaved department and families.

Shortly after arriving on the scene, firefighters used a ladder to rescue two people from the upper level of the building. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those lost and injured”, said Berardi, who thanked everyone who has sent the department condolences. On Tuesday, Berardi said that the community’s compassion “has been wonderful”.

Around 7:30 Monday night a massive fire quickly engulfed their apartment building in Kansas City’s Old Northeast Neighborhood.

Firefighters, who spend about a third of their lives at the fire station, develop particularly strong bonds.

“Kansas City lost two heroes tonight when two Kansas City Missouri firefighters were killed in the line of duty”.

Details on memorial services will be released as soon as they are available, according to the department’s news release. Crews began operating to effect fire suppression.

Firefighters are still battling hotspots, but the fire is under control, Berardi said.

“For me personally, it hits really close to home having a father (Mike) being a firefighter for 29 years”, Hosmer said.

Often honor guards from many fire departments will go to the scene of tragedy to show their support.

“Every fire we go to, whether it’s a house fire or commercial building or apartment building, we have safety measures in place and training is the first key to preventing those kinds of things”, Cpt. “We never realized how risky the job was until we got a little older”, Hosmer said.