‘There won’t be any houses left’: Historic Northeast leaders urge city to address fires

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Neighborhood groups in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast are sounding the alarm to address a surge of fires across the area.

According to data from KCFD, there have been 78 structural fires over the course of a 90-day period from November 2024 to January of this year. The fires have burned various kinds of buildings, including private and commercial properties. However, there is a growing concern about fires in vacant properties.

The causes behind many of these fires remain unclear, but the risk is real for those living in these communities. Neighborhood leaders are pushing for action.

“I want my kids to want to stay in Northeast and there’s not going to be any houses left for them to live in, if we’re just letting them sit and burn down,” said Jimmy Fitzner, president of the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association.

Fitzner says structure fires are all too common and that the community is losing more than just buildings.

“These buildings. These single-family homes and these apartment buildings like Perry Place are a gift from the past to us and we need to preserve them,” he said.

Neighborhood leaders say traditional resources like 3-1-1 and the Healthy Homes Rental Inspection Program haven’t solved the problem.

“The reason the building catches fire is because it’s been sitting there available to be broken into. It’s sitting there rotting in our neighborhood,” said Fitzner.

They’re now organizing a coordinated response with the city and fire department and introducing new ideas like a vacancy tax. The goal is to hold property owners able and prevent future fires.

“We have property owners that own these buildings from out of state and they’re allowing our neighborhood to burn down, he said.

In March, the City Council ed a resolution backing this collaboration.

In a statement to KCTV5, city spokesperson Sherae Honeycutt said, “City leaders have been meeting with residents and coalition to listen, identify patterns, and better understand the root causes of recent fires, including those involving vacant structures. As part of this process, staff are coordinating with multiple departments, particularly the Fire Department, to further evaluate potential solutions.

While these efforts are still underway, the City is committed to working collaboratively with neighborhoods and elected officials to address safety concerns and explore viable long-term strategies.”

Fitzner calls it a step in the right direction.

“That gives our kids some hope that they can stay in their neighborhood, that somebody cares in their neighborhood, and that they’re not just going to watch their neighborhood burn.

According to the resolution, the city manager has been directed to provide an update on fire prevention strategies to council with a report due by May 14.

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