Five Alarm Fire Rips Through Two Kansas City, Missouri Buildings

A five-alarm fire ripped through two buildings in the West Bottoms Sunday night, sending smoke pouring through the neighborhood and forcing the shutdown of the 12th Street Viaduct.

Firefighters were called about 8:15 p.m. to the five-story KC Bolt, Nut & Screw Co. building at 12th and Hickory streets.

When they arrived, they found flames billowing from the roof, and the fire quickly spread to a nearby structure.

The buildings involved apparently were vacant.

Shortly after arriving, firefighters were forced to take a defensive posture around the building.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. No one was believed to have been injured.

The 12th Street Viaduct was shut down from Hickory to Interstate 35 out of concern that the fire posed a risk to motorists.