A long and gruesome chore continues for police and fire investigators after a fatal house fire at 16th and Olive in St Joseph. Battalion Fire Chief Paris Jenkins of the St Joseph Fire Department says three people were believed to be inside the house when it caught fire shortly before 7am.

“We had one victim who was rescued by a citizen who was out when we arrived,” Chief Jenkins said. “We have one confirmed victim and we are searching for a second, reported victim.”

Police said the rescued victim was flown to the University of Kansas Medical Center for treatment. Firefighters made two efforts at search and rescue, but were turned back by the heat of the fire at first, and then weakness in the floor. One firefighter had to jump out a window to escape, because the fire got so back, so quick.

Chief Jenkins would not comment on the cause of he fire. He says Fire Inspector Jason Ziph is leading the continuing investigation and directing “tactical operations” at the fire scene.

Those tactical operations could take quite a while. Streets in the area are expected to remain closed overnight and possibly through tomorrow. Heavy equipment from the St Joseph City Yards was brought in to help excavate access to evidence, in what is now taped off as a crime scene. Jenkins says the police always do that when there’s a fatality involved.

The second victim is believed to be in the basement, under about six feet of water from the firefighting effort.