Here is an update on the structure fire that occurred Tuesday at 1900 Swift.   North Kansas City Fire Department crews worked overnight addressing hotspots inside the structure.   This morning at 8 a.m., the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), at the invitation of the North Kansas City Fire Department, began the official investigation on the cause of the structure fire.  At 11 a.m., the ATF and Chief David Hargis gave a press conference announcing the preliminary findings for the investigation – Failure to Properly Extinguish Smoking Material.  

The City’s Building Official has been working in conjunction with emergency services and the building owners for the duration of this incident.  This morning, after the ATF’s investigation, the building was declared a Dangerous Building.  The property owner has secured the property and will begin the demolition process.  We expect the demolition process to occur over the next several days.  The fencing surrounding the structure has been extended to block the public parking around the building as a safety measure.  The property owner is working with the 13 businesses impacted by this structure fire to relocate them into office space within their network. 

The City received tremendous support from the Gladstone Fire Department, Kansas City Missouri Fire Department, Scott Lamaster’s Taking it to the Streets group, the ATF and numerous local businesses.  The City expresses its gratitude to the members of the departments of Fire, Police, Public Works, Community Development, Administration and others who have been involved with the team response to this fire.