Arson suspected at vacant barracks on former Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base

By Kathy Feist

There was no mistaking which abandoned military barrack had just endured a fire. The strong smell of smoke wafted from the open doorways, like a barbecue….or multiple barbecues.

The Kansas City Police Bomb and Arson division is investigating the cause of multiple fires inside an abandoned three-story barrack that was once a part of the Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base.

Kansas City Fire Department reports that at 10:26 Friday morning fire crews responded to reports of smoke from a vacant dormitory at 15800 Calvary Rd.  Multiple handlines were initiated to put out the fires. There were no injuries. Due to the location of many fires, KCPD Bomb and Arson was requested to handle the investigation.

The barracks were once a part of the Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base that was built in 1941 and shut down in 1994. In 2008 Calvary Bible College leased the property from the City of Kansas City MO, but moved its campus across the street where it now operates as Calvary University.

The property where the fire took place is now owned by Kansas City Port Authority. KC Port Authority owns Richards-Gebaur Commerce Park off 150 Hwy and Botts Road. Plans are to demolish the vacant buildings as commerce centers push southward.