A vacant, industrial building caught fire and burned on Friday, March 5, at 451 S. 26th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
The fire caused extensive damage to the building, which was located next to the railyards, a spokesman stated.
The fire at the concrete structure, with a heavy timber roof, was fought in a defensive method, according to Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Schaunaman.
Crews were sent to the fire about 11:19 a.m. Friday on a general alarm. About 35 were on the scene, fighting the fire.
The roof of the building was the only thing on fire, and had collapsed before firefighters arrived, Schaunaman stated.
Two aerial trucks fought the fire from the outside, and required about 3,500 feet of 5-inch supply line to furnish water from the hydrant to the apparatus, according to Schaunaman.
He said he spoke with the owner, who purchased the building about two months ago and had planned to redevelop itinto an industrial warehouse. The owner was told the building was used by the railroad to make ice blocks in the 1920s, he said.
It was a challenge to obtain enough water to suppress the fire, Schaunaman stated. One of the hydrants did not have enough pressure. Another hydrant was used, but some rail tracks had to be shut down as the supply line crossed the tracks, he said.
There were no injuries, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, he stated.
