Hailey
On the morning of Friday, October 24, 2025, firefighters in Kansas City, Missouri responded to a two-alarm fire at a three-story vacant apartment building located at E. 35th Street and Euclid Avenue.
The fire escalated quickly, forcing a defensive attack strategy, damaging a neighboring home, and ultimately causing full structural collapse of the building.
Incident overview
Fire crews from the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) arrived at approximately 9:30 a.m. CT to find heavy flames on every floor of the three-story structure.
The building was already fully engaged, and the intensity of the blaze produced radiant heat that caused a neighboring home to ignite.
Due to the imminent risk of collapse, interior firefighting operations in the adjacent home were halted.
Because the apartment building was reported to be vacant, the decision was made to operate in a defensive mode, using aerial master streams to contain the fire rather than sending crews inside the structure.
As the fire progressed, the building ultimately collapsed completely, leaving a large rubble pile in its place.
Despite the severity of the incident, there were no injuries reported among firefighters or civilians at the time of control.
The American Red Cross responded to assist one adult and four children displaced by damage to the nearby home.
The investigation into the cause of the blaze has been turned over to the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) Bomb & Arson Unit.
Detailed facts & figures
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, October 24, 2025 |
| Time of dispatch | ~9:30 a.m. CT |
| Location | E. 35th St. & Euclid Ave., Kansas City, MO |
| Building type | 3-story vacant apartment building |
| Alarm level | Two-alarm fire |
| Firefighting strategy | Defensive — aerial master streams, no interior attack in main structure |
| Secondary impact | Neighboring home ignited by radiant heat; interior attack stopped due to collapse risk |
| Injuries | None reported |
| Displacement assistance | 1 adult & 4 children supported by the American Red Cross |
| Structural outcome | Complete collapse of the apartment building |
| Investigating agency | KCPD Bomb & Arson Unit |
How the fire unfolded
Upon arrival, KCFD crews observed a fully-involved 3-story apartment structure. Flames were visible on all levels.
Given the speed at which the fire spread and the compromised condition of the vacant building, the incident commander opted for a defensive fire attack, focusing efforts on protecting exposures rather than risking personnel inside the main structure.
A nearby home to the north of the fire scene began to catch fire from radiant heat emitted by the burning apartment.
Firefighters initially attempted an interior attack in that home but were forced to withdraw when the collapse risk of the adjacent structure became imminent.
Aerial ladder trucks applied master streams onto the plaza and roof of the burning building, cooling exposures and suppressing the blaze.
After around 90 minutes of sustained attack, crews achieved control of the fire. Soon after control was achieved, the building collapsed entirely — a testament to the advanced structural damage it had sustained.
Why causes the concern
Vacant multi-story buildings pose special hazards during fires. Without occupants, fires often go undetected longer and can reach higher intensity before response.
The structural integrity may already be compromised by neglect or code violations, increasing collapse risk. In this incident, the decision to fight defensively likely prevented injuries by avoiding an interior entry into a compromised building.
Additionally, heat and flying embers created an exposure hazard to neighboring homes, as evidenced by the adjacent structure catching fire.
Swift containment efforts were key in preventing the blaze from spreading further into the residential block.
What happens next
Now that the fire is under control, the investigation phase has begun. The KCPD Bomb & Arson Unit is leading the probe into the origin and cause of the fire.
Because the building collapsed, determining the exact point of origin and cause may be difficult. Fire officials will review building inspection records — including any prior code violations — witness statements, and KCFD operational logs.
Meanwhile, the damaged neighbor home will need fire-damage assessment, structural evaluation, and occupant support.
Displaced residents are being assisted and may require temporary housing or repair funding depending on insurance and city programs.
The early-morning two-alarm fire at 35th & Euclid in Kansas City illustrates both the dangers of vacant structures and the importance of defensive tactical decisions by firefighting agencies.
Thanks to the Kansas City Fire Department’s prompt response and protective strategy, the fire was contained with no injuries reported, despite the severe collapse of the apartment building and damage to a neighboring home.
As investigation efforts continue, the event serves as a reminder of the risks posed by neglected buildings and the value of coordinated emergency response.