Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
Kansas City Fire Department crews responded to a structure fire Tuesday morning at the old Fire Station 10 located on Virginia Avenue between Independence Avenue and Admiral Boulevard.
Upon arrival, the building was almost fully involved and fire crews took a defensive stance, establishing collapse zones after the roof collapsed into the interior of the structure. Due to the intense nature of the fire, Independence Avenue was closed between Lydia and Forest, and Virginia was closed between Admiral and Independence.
The old station on Virginia was built in 1908 and used by the Fire Department until 1931 when a new Station 10 was built at 1019 Cherry. Since roughly 1999, it has been privately owned and used as a warehouse for a local forklift parts business.
Due to increasing problems with trespassers and squatters occupying the building illegally, the owners had repeatedly attempted to secure the structure. Upon their arrival Tuesday, fire crews noted one man leaving the building, stating there was nobody left inside before leaving the scene.
City inspectors and fire investigators ordered an immediate emergency demolition of the building following the fire citing safety issues, which took place Wednesday morning. The cause remains under investigation.
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