Part of I-470 reopens hours after grass fire ignites, some KC residents urged to evacuate

Update: As of 5:10 p.m. Sunday, one lane was reopened each way on Interstate 470 Highway, said Jason Spreitzer, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Fire Department.

Part of Interstate 470 Highway in south Kansas City has reopened after a large grass fire caused authorities to close the road for a few hours.

A mulch fire reported before 11 a.m. quickly grew to a large brush fire, leading officials to urge some nearby residents to evacuate their homes.

As of 4:25 p.m., the westbound lanes of the highway were reopened, according to an update from the Missouri Department of Transportation. The two right lanes and exit ramp to Raytown were still closed, along with all eastbound lanes.

Beginning Sunday morning, police urged some Kansas City residents to evacuate as the fire grew, spreading thick smoke along with it.

The blaze, which began as a mulch fire at a business, quickly spread and moved toward the Highview Estates neighborhood, officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman with the Kansas City Police Department, said in an email to media just before noon. Officers were called to the scene around 11 a.m. and are knocking on doors to let residents know, she said.

Officials initially shut down eastbound I-470 between Interstate 49 and Interstate 435 in Kansas City to the Grandview Triangle, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The highway is shut down westbound at 350 Highway and U.S. 50 Highway in Lee’s Summit.

The blaze, which began as a small brush fire on the south side of I-470, quickly grew, spurred on by high winds and dry conditions in the area Sunday, Kansas City Fire Chief Donna Lake told The Star Sunday afternoon.

Embers from the initial fire were carried over the highway, igniting parts of a wooded area on the north side of the interstate. This left fire crews to battle blazes in two different locations, Lake said.

Lake said as of about 2 p.m. Sunday, only a couple homes to the south had been urged to evacuate.

The fire chief advised anyone who lives in the general area and who is at home to turn off their HVAC systems to reduce the smoke coming into their homes. She also advised them to shelter in place until they learn more from authorities about whether or not they will need to evacuate.

KCFD is working alongside fire crews from six other area agencies to control the fire, Lake said.