About 50 student athletes displaced by apartment fire

A fire at an apartment complex at 7300 State Ave. at 3:39 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, caused an estimated $300,000 in damage and displaced about 50 students, according to the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department.

None of the student athletes at Kansas City Kansas Community College who lived at the complex were injured, the Fire Department spokesman said.

The students had been returning from Christmas break this weekend, according to the spokesman.

Arrangements were being made to assist the 50 students who were displaced because of the fire, the spokesman said.

Crews arrived within 4 minutes of the call to report heavy smoke coming from the rear of a 24-unit apartment building, the spokesman said.

Crews evacuated all residents who were at home, according to the spokesman.

He said the fire was on the upper floors and crews ventilated the roof to control entry into the building.

Firefighters found heavy fire in one apartment that had spread to other units, he said. The fire was brought under control in an hour, the spokesman said.

The fire is under investigation, according to the spokesman. The pre-fire value of the building was $500,000, according to the Fire Department.