Sprint Center fire shouldn't affect Big 12 Tournament

KANSAS CITY — Fire officials say a blaze on the seventh floor of Kansas City’s new Sprint Center will not affect this week’s Big 12 Basketball Tournament.

Deputy Fire Chief Paul Berardi said firefighters needed 45 minutes to douse the Tuesday morning blaze in an air-intake room. The Kansas City Star reported on its Web site that a heating element on the ceiling dropped onto some roofing material and caught fire.

Berardi said a “light haze of smoke” filled the arena but it was expected to dissipate quickly.

No one was injured in the blaze, which was first reported shortly after 6 a.m.