Two firefighters were killed and two others were injured when a fire-engulfed building collapsed in Kansas City late Monday, officials said.
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In a news conference, Kansas City Fire Chief Paul Berardi confirmed Larry Leggio and John Mesh made the ultimate sacrifice after saving two people from a structure fire.
“They located, uncovered and removed, four firefighters from the immediate area”, Chief Berardi says.
Two Kansas City firefighters have died after a collapse at a burning apartment building Monday evening. A complete investigation, with the assistance of a KCPD, and a National Response Team from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is underway.
One of the firefighters was treated and released from a hospital Monday night and the other could be released Tuesday, he said.
Mayor Sly James expressed his condolences for families of the fallen firefighters. The last time a KCFD firefighter died in the line of duty was January 7, 2011, according to the worldwide Association of Fire Fighters Local No. 42. “We will continue to do our job as we do every day”.
The fire was in a complex at Independence Avenue and Prospect Avenue. Firefighters were clearing out an area with a partially collapsed roof when the building crumbled.
Firefighters in Wichita mourn the tragic death of two Kansas City firefights.
The families of Leggio and Mesh – and all of Kansas City’s firefighting family – are owed the community’s greatest respect and sympathy.
“I think we all woke up with heavy hearts today”, the Royals manager said.
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The Wichita Fire Department is now in the process of conducting a few of it’s basic skills training, which will take about three weeks for all firefighters to go through. Cpt. Fire crews remained at the scene Tuesday morning, but the fire was under control.
