Two Children Die In Overland Park Apartment Fire

Two children died and four adults were injured in an early morning apartment fire in Overland Park.

The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday near 88th Street and Broadmoor, according to fire department spokesman Jason Rhodes. He says firefighters immediately called for a second alarm.

"Upon arrival they were met with heavy smoke and fire showing from two sides of a two-story apartment complex," Rhodes says.

In addition to the two deaths, two men were taken to the hospital with severe burns, another man suffered minor burns and a woman was transported with minor burns and smoke inhalation, according to a statement from the fire department.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital with "heat related issues," the statement said. 

Rhodes says when firefighters entered the apartment they did not hear smoke detectors sounding.

"It's possible that they were destroyed at that point so we'll have to do that investigation," Rhodes says.

Firefighters cleared the scene just before 8:00 a.m. Investigators from the Overland Park Fire Department and Overland Park Police were in the unit.

Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR and the Kansas News Service and is co-host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff.