Two people killed as ‘suspicious’ fire engulfs apartments in Kansas City, North

Two people died early Monday in what officials are calling a “suspicious” fire at the Vivion Oaks apartments in Kansas City, North, a fire department spokesman said.

The two-alarm fire was reported shortly before 4:30 a.m. at a three-story building in the apartment complex at 5056 North Oak Trafficway, said Jason Spreitzer, a spokesman for the Kansas City Fire Department.

Arriving firefighters, stationed about a minute up the street from the complex, reported a large amount of fire on the front of the building, Spreitzer said.

“Tragically as we were going through head counts, we confirmed two fatalities,” Spreitzer said.

Fire officials called in the Kansas City Police Department bomb and arson unit early on because the fire appeared to be suspicious. The unit will be handling the investigation into the fire.

“It’s very early in the investigation and the cause has yet to be determined,” said Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.

Fire investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were helping police investigate the fire, said John Ham, a spokesman for the ATF’s Kansas City Field Division.

Anyone with information about the deadly fire is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).