Bryan Stalder
Contributor

Three occupants were rescued from a burning apartment building last night (Tuesday, March 11) in the vacant Olive Park Village complex. A firefighter briefly issued a distress call after falling through a weakened floor while crews battled the blaze.

The fire was reported shortly after 10 p.m. in the 800 block of Park Avenue. According to the Kansas City Fire Department, crews were dispatched at 10:06 p.m. and arrived to find smoke and flames showing from a two-story apartment building.

Firefighters launched an aggressive interior attack, advancing multiple hose lines into the structure while searching for occupants. During those efforts, crews rescued three people from a basement apartment.

One of the rescued occupants was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. The other two were evaluated at the scene.

During the firefight, a Mayday call was issued after a firefighter fell through the first floor into the basement below. Officials said the firefighter was able to exit the building independently and was not injured.

Firefighters conducted searches throughout the structure and confirmed all occupants were accounted for before bringing the fire under control.

By late evening, crews remained on scene extinguishing hot spots as part of overhaul operations. City officials with planning and dangerous buildings were requested to respond to assess the structure.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Kansas City Fire Department.

These apartment units have drawn attention in the past for repeated fires and ongoing safety concerns. Coverage by Northeast News has previously documented multiple incidents at the complex, raising questions about building conditions and oversight in the area.