Northeast News

May 24, 2016

The Kansas City Star reported this afternoon that the Kansas City Fire Department will release a report this week about the October 12, 2015 fire that took the lives of KCFD firefighters John Mesh and Larry Leggio.

The deadly fire began at a mixed-use residential and commercial structure at 2614 Independence Avenue. Thu Hong Nguyen was eventually charged with one count of first-degree arson and two counts of second-degree murder for starting the blaze in the northeast corner of the LN Salon and Spa.

Mesh and Leggio were fighting the fire in an alleyway between Snyder’s Supermarket and the three-story structure at 2608 Independence Ave. when a brick wall collapsed upon them. Two other KCFD firefighters were also in the alleyway, and were injured when the wall collapsed.

Fire Chief Paul Berardi is quoted in the Star story, saying that the report is a “warts and all” account of everything that happened at the site on the night of October 12. He added that he expects the report to be released by the end of the week at the latest, and as early as Wednesday.

The Northeast News was at the scene of the fire, and has extensively covered developments in this story since. Bunny the Newshound has also weighed in. Check back later in the week for more information about the KCFD report.