Two firefighters were killed and two were injured Monday while rescuing residents from a burning apartment building in Kansas City.
Firefighters were dispatched to a massive fire at an apartment building at 7:30 CT in the city’s northeast side. Fire crews began evacuating people from the building that was heavily damaged by smoke and flames.
While clearing an area of the building part of the roof collapsed injuring four firefighters, two of which died.
An emotional Fire Chief Paul Berardi struggled to address the media but praised the bravery of the firefighters who died.
“It’s difficult when you live with someone for 24 hours a day. And you’re laughing and joking minute and then something like this happens,” Berardi told KSHB-TV.
“They did not die in vain. They saved two civilians, carried them out of the second floor on ladders, before the wall collapsed.”
The identities of the firefighters killed and injured have not been released. The Kansas City Star reported that one of the injured firefighters was released later Monday evening and the other was expected to be released Tuesday.
Berardi said at a news conference that firefighters were at a hospital consoling the families of those who died.
“Our hearts absolutely go out to the families, both to their peers who are grieving but also to their family members who are at the hospital with them now,” he said.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear and fire crews were still at the scene Tuesday, the Star reported.
Mayor Sly James called the incident a “tragic loss” and offered his condolences to the families of the firefighters.
“Tonight’s tragic loss is a reminder that Kansas City firefighters put their lives on the line for all of us every day,” James said in a statement. “Our condolences go out to the loved ones of those who made the ultimate sacrifice today.”
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