News

Actions

KCFD uses lessons from Mesh/Leggio tragedy to fight 18th & Vine fire

Posted at 6:10 AM, Feb 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-03 07:10:45-05

KCMO firefighters battled a fire on Thursday morning that damaged three historic buildings on Vine Street, using strategies put in the spotlight following the tragic deaths of firefighters Larry Leggio and John Mesh in October 2015.

The two firefighters died while fighting an Independence Avenue apartment fire in 2015, after a wall on the side of the building collapsed on them.

Related: Community still mourning loss of Kansas City firefighters John Mesh and Larry Leggio one year later

On Thursday, a large fire started on Vine Street at a building similar to the one from the tragic incident.

“When we arrived on the scene, we had the same type of Type 3 construction,” explained KCFD Battalion Chief Ted Henry. “It was a brick building."

Investigators say Thursday’s fire started after a homeless woman tried to stay warm inside the abandoned building.

Story: 3 historic buildings damaged by fire in the 18th & Vine District

Large flames could be seen as firefighters arrived to battle the blaze.

Following the tragedy in 2015, Henry told 41 Action News that the fire squad used tactical strategies to avoid a similar incident.

“We set up collapse zones, isolation areas,” Henry said. “We set up far away from the structure so that if something catastrophic were to happen, we want everyone to remain safe."

Henry said firefighters were instructed to stay a certain distance away from the building when taking on the fire.

Due to the building’s age, he said crews knew there was an increased risk being close to the action.

“We knew that these buildings had been in decay for several years or quite some time,” Henry explained. “The buildings were compromised."

In total, three abandoned historic buildings were damaged in the fire.

One of the buildings caught fire after embers from the first fire flew over the scene.

“We set up our streams quickly and got lots of water on it quickly,” Henry said. “Those streams are very helpful and they can take down a building themselves. We kept that in mind to try and not destroy the building.”

The strategies used by the firefighters on Thursday were part of a number of recommendations made to the department following 2015’s tragedy.

Henry explained that Mesh and Leggio remain close to the hearts of KCMO firefighters.

“We take the lessons they taught us and the sacrifices they made and we carry that with us," he said.

The KCMO city manager said that despite the damage done to the Vine Street buildings, none of them will be torn down.

All three buildings will continue to be renovated as part of revitalization efforts in the 18th & Vine District.

Hours after the fire spread through the buildings, City Councilman Jermaine Reed was appreciative of the efforts of the firefighters.

“They stayed for hours and they did everything they could to make sure the fire did not spread,” he explained. “One small challenge does not necessarily deter us to not keep moving forward, but it does give us a unique opportunity to keep moving forward."

Battalion Chief Henry added that John Mesh and Larry Leggio likely would have been proud of Thursday’s response.

“They're watching down on us,” he said. “They're proud to see their brothers in arms in a successful incident."

-------

 

 

Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.

Follow him on Twitter:

Follow @KCTomDempsey

Connect on Facebook: