The furniture warehouse building that caught fire will be torn down, the owner said Wednesday.
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“I hate losing that building but what’s done is done,” Bob Ehinger, owner of 2915 Southwest Blvd told 41 Action News.
Only the four walls of the four-story warehouse remain standing, the rest of it destroyed in Tuesday’s inferno.
41 Action News obtained surveillance video that shows thick smoke filling Southwest Blvd. as the first Kansas City Fire Department crews arrived to battle the towering flames.
At daybreak, firefighters monitored hotspots for any flare ups.
“We’ve kept people a safe distance away we’re not in danger if it does collapse we’re far enough away that we’re not in any danger there,” KCFD Chief Paul Berardi said.
KCFD and the ATF have concluded this fire wasn’t intentionally set. Investigators are working to determine the cause but because of the extensive damage they may never pinpoint the exact source.
“We cannot go into inside the structure because it’s too unsafe for us to enter,” John Ham, an ATF spokesperson said.
Tuesday wasn’t the first time firefighters were called to Fridays furniture outlet.
According to KCFD, the structure had sustained roof and water damage from Saturday’s storm. The water damage had rendered the inventory a total loss.
Building owner Bob Ehinger said he had hired workers to repair that damage from Saturday night’s storm.
“We even lifted about $3,000 worth of lumber up there. The crew got work from 6 to 1:30 p.m.,” Ehinger said.
That spared the workers lives from the massive fire.
Both the city and owner have agreed to tear down what’s left of the building worth $400,000.
According to KCMO spokesperson Chris Hernandez:
"City staff is monitoring the situation and has been in contact with the owners of the burned building on SW Blvd.
We have been told that the demolition will begin tomorrow.
Keep in mind that it’s the owner’s responsibility to take care of demolition immediately in situations like this. The City only steps in when the property owner fails to do that, due to public safety concerns. And in that case the owner would be billed. Fortunately, the owner in this case is taking care of the situation."
As for the investigation, the fire department is expected to complete their report in about two to three weeks.
