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WEBVTT FIREFIGHTERS ARE MAKING PROGRESSON THE FIRES THEY ARE DEALINGWITH RIGHT NOW?REPORTER: IT LOOKS LIKE ON THATONE STREET TO THE SOUTH OF THEMAIN APARTMENT BUILDING THAT WASON FIRE, THAT ONE STREET AM ONLYTWO HOSES THEY ARE WORKING WITH.YOU CAN SEE THE ONE HOUSE ACROSSTHE STREET FROM THE ONE RIGHTNEXT TO THE FIRE.OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS NOT GOING TOBE THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE.THAT WOULD'VE HAD TO BE EMBERS.YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE DRIFTINGIN THAT DIRECTION.STILL, ENOUGH HEAT AND FIRE ONTHE HOUSE.I WILL TRY TO GET BACK INPOSITION TO SHOW YOU ACROSS THESTREET FROM THAT HOUSE IN THEAPARTMENT BUILDING.YOU SEE FLAMES COMING FROM THEROOTS -- FROM THE ROOF OF THEHOUSE.YOU CAN SEE THAT HOUSE ON FIRERIGHT NOW.HAVE SEEN A LOT OF RESIDENCES --A LOT OF RESIDENTS WALKING ITAROUND HERE.A TON OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS.VERY SAD TO SEE THIS.THATONE AS OVERLAND PARKFIREFIGHTERS HAVE THEIR HANDSFULL WITH THAT ONE.KRIS: THAT IS KMBC NINE NEWS AT4:00 AS THEY CONTINUE TO HAVEBREAKING NEWS AT 113TH ANDSWEITZER WHERE A HUGE APARTMENTCOMPLEX IS UNDER CONSTRUCTIONAND CAUGHT FIRE ABOUT 20 OR 25MINUTES AGO.BRINGING PICTURES OF THE SCENE.WE HAVE BEEN IN COVERAGE FORSEVERAL MINUTES AS WE CONTINUETO SEE WHAT PROGRESS AND WHAT ADIFFICULT JOB FACING OVERLANDPARK FIREFIGHTERS FROM JOININGCITIES HAVE ALSO GOTTEN INVOLVEDIN THE FIREFIGHT HERE.WE KEPT GETTING PHOTOS LIKE THISONE ON THE LEFT WHERE PEOPLE AREEMAILING AND CALLING THENEWSROOM, POSTING QUESTIONS ONFACEBOOK.ALL OF THAT SMOKE WHAT WETHOUGHT WAS ORIGINALLY THE AREAOF 109TH AND COLLEGE BOULEVARD.THIS IS SMOKE AND FLAMES THATCOULD BE SEEN, NOT ALL THAT FARAWAY.THERE IS YOUR ANSWER.SOME OF THESE HOMES IN THENEIGHBORHOOD.THIS SHOT WIDENS OUT.BRING IS BACKED UP TO DATE.IT I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUTTHREE.JOHNNY: HE TILTING UP AND YOUSEE ANOTHER HOUSE ON THECUL-DE-SAC HERE THAT IS ON FIRE.WE TALKED ABOUT THE EMBERSEARLIER.THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WEHAVE AND I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISEDTO SEE A LOT OF THESE ARE WOODSHAKE ROOFS AND THOSE ARE JUST ATINDERBOX.YEARS AGO, IN THE MID-1990'S.A LOT OF STRUCTURES BUILT WITHTHIS.ALMOST A FULL BLOCK AWAY FROMTHE MAIN DEPARTMENT BUILDINGTHAT HAS BEEN ON FIRE.THIS HOUSE ON FIRE AS WELL.HOUSES INVOLVED FOR THAT.ONE ON FIRE, TO GETTING WATERFOR THEM NOW.LET'S PULL BACK AND GO TO THELEFT.I THOUGHT IT WAS A GARDEN HOSEAND MAYBE IT WILL BE AFIREFIGHTER DOWN THERE WITH AVERY SMALL HOSE.BUT THE BIG STORY THERE IS NOT

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A massive fire broke out at an apartment complex under construction in Overland Park on Monday afternoon spreading to almost two dozen homes.The 8-alarm fire at the Royale Apartments at CityPlace along U.S. 69 and College Boulevard was reported at 3:30 p.m. One building was destroyed by the fire in a matter of minutes, while another building was badly damaged.Multiple homes near the apartments were also on fire. Fire crews said at least a 22 homes were damaged by flames and smoke. Embers from the huge fire flew into the air, sparking more fires on the roofs of several homes."It looks like a war zone," said Jason Rhodes, Overland Park Fire Department spokesman.Three firefighters were taken to hospitals for issues related to fighting the fire. All three are reported to be in fair condition.The Overland Park Fire Department received mutual aid from its Johnson County, Kansas partners, as well as the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department, the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department, and the Lawrence, Kansas Fire Department. Of the three firefighters transported, all were from different departments. Authorities remain at CityPlace apartments pouring water on hot spots. All residential fires were put out.Fire crews said they will be on scene for a "significant" period of time - up to the next 24 hours to monitor the situations. The concern at this time is some fires may not have shown themselves.Neighbors are urged to be vigilant, and to keep an eye on their property and surrounding properties.The Red Cross and Salvation Army are working to help those displaced by these fires.Police have established a perimeter around the neighborhoods involved. Only residents who live or are supposed to be in the area will be allowed in. Block Real Estate said they have made lodging arrangements for those affected by these fires. Royale at CityPlace residents, and residents from the surrounding neighborhoods that need lodging can go to the Christ Lutheran Church at 117th and Nieman or the CityPlace Command Center in the lobby of the Drury Inn and Suites in Overland Park (10963 Metcalf Ave.) for help. The developer of CityPlace issued this statement at 5:30 p.m.: "Our main concern is for all of those impacted by the fire, and for the safety of the firefighters and homeowners who are doing all they can to salvage surrounding homes.As of this hour, we have not been informed of any injuries at the CityPlace development, but we are still attempting to contact those who were working at the site today. The development is under construction.We are extremely grateful to all of the fire departments who answered the call, and for their heroic efforts. Our thoughts and concerns remain with those who are directly impacted by this event."For news updates on the go, click here to get the KMBC 9 News app.