Wednesday started out with me working an earlier shift. I was to drive from home with the cherrybomb and go to a press conference in Raymore about the murder they had there. They are still looking for leads but are disbanding the metro squad. I was leaving and talking on the phone to the assignment manager, Sindy, when we both heard on her scanner a report of an explosion at Nicolson and Gardner. I started heading up 71 highway towards the blast, and could hear the chatter on the scanner to get an idea of how serious it was. As I got to the Grandview Triangle, I could see the huge plume of smoke drifting over the city. I was worried that the plume could be toxic as it was a chemical fire. I started rolling on the dashcam as I headed into the city. I went through downtown and it was like a very dark thunderstorm was over the city -- it blackened the sky. People were being advised to stay indoors. I got to the northeast area and weeded my way through traffic and emergency vehicles to Cliff drive, which had a perfect view overlooking the fire. I shot video until police came by and evacuated everyone off of the drive for fear of toxins in the air. I then went east hoping to ether rendezvous with one of lour live trucks or with the media area. I had to struggle through all the traffic evacuating the scene which took forever. I eventually made it to Front and Cheateau where I met up with John, Heather and Phil in Van 1. I then went to direct Scott in Van 4 to our location. Scott started setting up, but was then told to go to North Kansas City. He said he had been in traffic for ever, but did have a spot at the levee road where he saw the fire perfectly. I then went up there via a back way and found what he was talking about. I shot some vid and watched the fire eventually die out. They were afraid the fire would have to burn for 72 hours, but eventually the fire ran out of fuel quicker than was beleived, and two railroad tank cars full of mneral spirits didn't explode. I then came into the station and dubbed everything I used off my dashcam, which was used in the 10.
I finally managed to get over to Front street and Riverfront drive. 41 and 9 were already there with their live trucks. A lot of people gathered at this intersection to watch the fire and take pictures. The police officer guarding this intersection only got bothered when people tried to get past his barrier.
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