Family of 4 killed in massive Independence apartments fire

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - Independence Fire Department crews report a family of four was killed in an early-morning fire at the Indy Ridge Apartments.

At 6 a.m., more than an hour before sunrise, a massive fire was called in from the complex, located just north of Independence Center. As a result of the fire, several streets to the east of the complex were closed to traffic for hours.

The family of four killed include two children ages 8 and 3 years old. Fire officials tell us they lived on the third floor.

The fire was extinguished by 8 a.m., IFD confirmed, but crews continued to work on hot spots throughout the morning.

In addition to the four killed, six people were evacuated, said Independence Fire Chief Jimmy Walker. “It’s a sad day for the community but we’ll pull together,” he said.

“It’s, you know, heartbreaking is about the best way to explain,” said JoAnn Woody, Executive Director of the Greater Kansas City American Red Cross. “There were about 32 individuals displaced by the fire.”

Red Cross is opening a shelter for 10-15 people displaced by the fire. They report others have options to stay with family and friends but will still need aid, just not shelter.

“Over the next 24 - 48 hours, you know, everything is going to start weighing very heavy, and so our caseworkers can actually help answer questions about the well, what am I going to do tomorrow? You know, what am I doing today? How do I do this? How do I do that?”

Firefighters from several neighboring cities assisted Independence with the fire and we are told there were functional smoke detectors in the apartments.

Two firefighters were transported to Research Medical Center for burns to hands, neck and ears but have since been released.

One resident escaped “just in time,” he said, and watched the middle and upper floors be evacuated. He also said a neighbor told him he put his breakfast on the stovetop and when he returned, the kitchen was ablaze.

“It sounded more like gunshots than fire,” neighbor William Heath told KCTV5 News. “It’s definitely sad, especially if you hear of it’s a family, you know, it’s a family that we lost. You know, that’s, that’s definitely sad.”

The neighbor in the next-door unit from where the fire started, Paige Miller, said the experience was terrifying.

“I watched everything, like everything, all of these units. I seen flames on and it was, it was it was honestly one of the most terrifying experiences in my life,” Miller continued. “My heart is really sad.”

“All of a sudden I see like an explosion-type thing in that unit where the family of four had ed away,” Miller told KCTV5. “I had came downstairs and the guy was He was distraught. He was frantic. He didn’t know what was going on. And I had heard that he was cooking breakfast, and it had happened from him cooking breakfast.”

Those in the complex continue to mourn the loss of their neighbors and their homes.

“I walked outside, I saw all the flames. The building was just burning down. The flames were the highest that I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen a fire like that,” said resident Brittany Siders. “My heart goes out to the family. I feel so bad for everybody that ed away, and everybody that doesn’t have a place to stay tonight.”

“It sounded like gunfire,” said Adam Myers, who lives in the building next to the one that caught on fire. “I immediately thought there was a shooting happening because I heard pop, pop, pop. ‘Get out, get out, get out’.”

The fire grew quickly according to Myers, who says it was only ten minutes from them seeing a small fire to it engulfing the building.

“It was awful, we could hear the screaming,” said Morgan Wooley. “There was a lady in one of these apartments that broke the glass with her bare hand. Firefighters were pulling her and her baby out. She was screaming ‘help my baby, save my kids’.”

Myers and Wooley opened their door to their neighbors, making sure they were out of the cold and away from the fire. Myers also wanted to highlight the quick work of the Independence firefighters who jumped into action.

“The firemen were amazing,” said Myers. “I cannot express my gratitude enough. They were running, yelling for everyone to get out, they were getting people out. It was lives on the line and they did amazing work.”

Both are heartbroken hearing that a family of 4 lost their lives. Wooley says she knew one of the kids and would see them frequently when she would babysit another kid in the complex.

Fire Chief Jimmy Walker confirmed it is believed to be a cooking-related fire. The state fire marshal’s office is investigating.

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