American Red Cross helps residents forced out of their KCMO apartment building

Extra crews were called to help Kansas City, Missouri, firefighters battle an apartment fire Monday morning.

The first fire crews were dispatched around 10:47 a.m. to an apartment building at 11606 Winchester Ave.

A KCFD spokesperson said firefighters initially were able to battle the blaze from inside the building but had to pivot and evacuate the structure to fight the fire from the outside only.

A second alarm was called to bring in extra resources.

The fire was brought under control around 11:30 a.m.

Eight of the 12 apartment units were occupied. KCFD said 10 residents requested assistance from the American Red Cross.

Eula Stanton lived in the building.

The sound of rushing water woke her.

“I was laying in my bed and I’m like, 'I’m hearing just something,"' Stanton said. “I said, ‘Where is this water coming from?" Then I looked out and looked up and seen all that fire right over on the end of the apartment right there. I said, ‘Oh my gosh, what’s going on, Jesus?"'

A firefighter came through her front door and helped her out, but with her life saved, her mind went to her life savings.

"Yes, it's going to set me back a lot. Because that's the only thing I keep thinking about is, 'Man this is just like starting from scratch,'" she said.

A study done this year by Bankrate shows only 44% of Americans think they could handle a $1,000 emergency.

JoAnn Woody, the executive director of the Greater Kansas City Northwest Missouri Chapter of American Red Cross, says it's a common misconception that insurance alone is an adequate back-up plan.

“There is this perception, this thought that, ‘Well, families who have insurance, they don’t need help because they’ve got insurance,"' Woody said. "But I always remind people; it doesn’t matter. Chances are those resources aren’t going to be in your hand and ready to go in that first 12 to 15 to 24 hours.”

She says there are things you can do to stay more prepared.

“Preparedness and readiness don’t have to cost a lot of money," she said. "Sometimes there are things you can do that don’t cost any money."

Woody recommends securely digitizing important documents so they aren't lost if your home is destroyed.

She pointed out transportation is a consistent issue after disasters and suggests keeping a spare key to your car somewhere separate, but secure.

“There are things you can do. Simple things," she said.

A Kansas City Fire Department spokesman said one person was treated at the scene for minor injuries. A firefighter was transported to an area hospital with heat-related issues. Both are expected to be OK.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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