Trending Topics

Mayday: Mo. firefighter falls through floor during apartment fire

Kansas City firefighters rescued three residents from a burning apartment in the Independence Plaza neighborhood

By Robert A. Cronkleton
The Kansas City Star

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Firefighters rescued three people, one of whom was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, while battling an apartment fire Wednesday night in Kansas City’s Independence Plaza neighborhood, according to a fire department spokesman.

Firefighters responded shortly after 10 p.m. to the Olive Park Village apartments in the 800 block of Park Avenue, said Battalion Chief Riley Nolan with the Kansas City Fire Department.

| SURVEY: Take the newest What Firefighters Want survey focused on training

Arriving firefighters reported smoke and fire coming from a two-story apartment, Nolan said. Fire crews initiated an offensive fire attack, advancing multiple hose lines to battle the flames.

A firefighter fell through the first floor into the basement and a mayday was called, Nolan said. The firefighter was able to get out of the building on their own and uninjured.

Fire crews searched the apartment building, but found no one else inside.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Kansas City’s dangerous building division was requested to respond to the scene, Nolan said.

This special coverage series focuses on mayday training, preparing members at all ranks for what they could face on the fireground or incident scene. Specifically, the coverage addresses how to develop a culture of mayday training, introduces basic RIT training for rookies, details advanced scenario-based training, and offers simple steps to help build muscle memory.
Trending
Donated by Google and YouTube, the new fleet will help LAFD and Arcadia firefighters reach injured or stranded people faster in rough terrain, traffic and crowds
A review of recent firehouse fires reveals recurring risks, from apparatus and battery failures to everyday station activities
Rochester Fire is now one of just 334 departments worldwide to earn CFAI accreditation and one of only 124 in the nation to pair it with the ISO Class 1 fire protection rating
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin ends the $100,000 sign-off requirement imposed by predecessor, aiming to ease FEMA bottlenecks and speed recovery aid

©2026 The Kansas City Star.
Visit kansascity.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Company News
Bipartisan legislation would fund National Fallen Firefighters Foundation programs supporting Fire Hero Families through proceeds from commemorative coin sales