7 killed after fire engulfs Park University building
NOTE: This article was written based on the information given to me by my instructor.
Kansas City, Mo- A fire at Park University killed as many as seven while burning 14 others on Thursday.
The fire occurred on the university’s campus in Parkville at the Copley building Thursday morning. The fire gutted the top two floors of the building, burning furniture and other items, including computers, to ashes after the blaze started at 8:00 a.m. before four fire engines and 20 firefighters were able to contain it by noon.
Michael Knight, Parkville’s chief of police, while addressing a press conference, said, “We do not rule out sabotage. Every aspect is being probed.” Knight also stated that he could not say anything more about the ongoing investigation.
While the cause of the incident is unknown, an anonymous source within the police department, who was not able to speak with the press, said that they believe the fire was caused by sabotage, “A professor who had come early in the morning has reported seeing an unknown person moving suspiciously in the building.”
The anonymous source did confirm that the person suspected to have started the fire was not able to be identified and investigations were inconclusive. The cause of the fatal fire incident was still unknown, but police were still investigating.
Anxious parents and relatives also fled to the scene as the event spread across the news, including Andrew Arnold, who’s son, Russel, was trapped inside the burning building, “I do not know if he is injured and his cell phone is switched off.” He was praying that his son comes out alive.
Patrick Denise, another parent, saw the incident on television, which involved his son, Aaron. Patrick hugged Aaron after firefighters brought Aaron out as Patrick became overwhelmed with great relief and thankfulness that his son was able to be saved.
