Two children killed in fire at apartment complex in Kansas City

Authorities are searching for what caused a fire at an apartment complex that took the life of two young children early Tuesday morning.

Firefighters said a family was on the bottom floor of the Overland Park apartment complex in Kansas when the fire started. They said an infant and a seven-year-old were able to make it out but a three-year-old and a five-year-old were killed in the flames.

The mother of the children was taken to an area hospital with minor burns. The children’s father was seen walking around the area, distraught over the loss of his children. Two men were also badly burned and had to jump from a second story unit to escape the flames. They were taken to an area hospital to treat their burns and the injuries sustained when jumping from the building.

Two firefighters were also treated for heat exhaustion. One was taken to an area hospital, the other was treated at the scene.

Firefighters said the fire started in a first-floor apartment and spread to a second story unit.

Officials said the building did not have working fire alarms or a sprinkler system. Smoke alarms are required on every story of a residence, according to the state fire marshall.

Overland Park Fire Department Public Information Officer Jason Rhodes said the city also requires sprinkler systems in multifamily units, but the Colonial Gardens Apartments were grandfathered in since they were built before the sprinkler systems were required.

The Red Cross is assisting between 15 and 20 people displaced by the fire.