A Kansas City Fire Department official says two firefighters were killed and two were injured when a burning building collapsed.
Fire Department Battalion Chief James Garrett told the Kansas City Star crews were dispatched to a building on the northeast side of town around 7:30 p.m. Monday. He said firefighters found the building that includes apartments heavily damaged, and they evacuated people from inside.
Fire Chief Paul Berardi said after the building had been evacuated, a wall collapsed outward about 30 feet and trapped the four firefighters who were trying to protect a nearby grocery store from the blaze.
During an emotional news conference early Tuesday, Berardi identified the firefighters as 17-year department veteran Larry J. Leggio, 43, and 13-year veteran John V. Mesh, 39.
Crews were still at the scene of the fire early Tuesday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Building owner Bo Tran says the building included 16 apartment units, a payday loan and tax business, a nail salon and a bar.
