Bomb and arson squad investigating deadly, ‘suspicious’ house fire in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Bomb and arson investigators are working to identify the cause of a “suspicious” fire that killed one person on Monday.

According to the Kansas City Fire Department, crews were called to the 4000 block of State Line Road at 8:57 a.m. on May 19.

Smoke and flames were visible from the top floor of a two-story home that had been converted into apartments. Firefighters were told that someone might still be inside, so they began to search and found one person’s body in the home.

The victim’s identity has not yet been released, but KCFD said the incident is under investigation due to its “suspicious nature.” Bomb and arson teams are on scene working to learn more.

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KCTV5 spoke with a woman who’s lived behind the home for 25 years. She said she saw photos and videos of the home in flames on her neighborhood watch social media page.

“I thought it was my house. I rushed from my fiancée’s house in a panic,” she said. "

The woman who didn’t want to be identified said she knew the owner of the home.

“I feel terribly for the home owner back there. At least it was a rental property. It’s not where he sleeps at night. So, he’s good,” she explained.

Neighbors described the area as quiet and unproblematic.

KCTV5 observed debris all over the the side of the home including what appeared to look like a small television hanging on the side of the roof.

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