Yesterday’s fire at Pioneer Pallets in the East Bottoms was by far the largest deployment of fire resources in many years. According to KCFD Public Information Officer Jason Spreitzer, over 160 fire personnel were deployed to the scene with 68 fire vehicles. The PulsePoint app shows the vehicles that were at one point in time or another assigned to the fire.

Seven firefighters were injured, three were transported to local hospitals with heat related injuries given the heat of the day combined with the intensity of the fire. Fire crews remained on the scene putting out hot spots this morning.

The lingering smoke has caused air quality in northwest Jackson and southwest Clay Counties to spike in to the unhealthy range causing issues for those with respiratory issues. At 7am this morning, a low hanging layer of smoke was visible over the East Bottoms and Downtown areas.

Of the 68 fire vehicles deployed, two trucks, Truck 12 and a Pumper were heavily damaged by heat. (see below) Both had to be towed from the scene. Fire investigators will work to determine a cause for the blaze. The building, or rather what’s left of it are considered a total loss.