Fireworks, not gas leak, likely caused fatal Gladstone explosion, city says
Two days after a home in Gladstone exploded, killing a man and two dogs, officials have ruled out a natural gas leak as the cause, instead saying it was likely caused by fireworks.
In a release sent out Monday from the City of Gladstone, preliminary findings suggest the explosion may have involved combustible materials stored at the home. Battalion Chief Mike Desaultels told The Star it was likely fireworks material, and that state fire marshals continue to investigate.
Firefighters responded just after 11 a.m. to Northeast 74th Terrace and North Main Street Saturday after multiple calls from residents about the explosion, which officials later learned killed one man and two dogs.
Officials used cadaver dogs to uncover the remains of a deceased adult man. His remains were unidentifiable, so confirmation of his identity may take some time, according to Gladstone Fire Chief Mike Desautels.
The Gladstone Fire Department, Gladstone Police Department, ATF and other organizations were on the explosion site Saturday until later that night. The American Red Cross also responded to the scene.
Witnesses recount traumatic day
Following the explosion, neighbors who witnessed the blast recounted moments of terror.
Ashleigh Tomlin was in her kitchen Saturday morning with her family when they all heard a massive bang. Her next-door neighbor’s house in Gladstone had just exploded.
She and her family hit the ground and a ceiling lamp came down, hitting Tomlin on the head and giving her a concussion. They thought a plane had crashed.
“We were just freaking out. I mean, we thought it was an attack,” she said.
Heather Garcia, who lives off Northeast 74th Terrace, was still in bed when she heard the loud boom and felt her house shake. She ran outside in search of her husband, Carlos Garcia, whom she knew was outside mowing.
“I came running outside, I don’t have any shoes on. I honestly thought maybe a tree had fallen on my house. I came outside and I started screaming for him,” she said.
The tree in the victim’s front yard stood intact, with structural debris, a blanket and a flannel coat still hanging from the branches.
City staff began cleanup efforts Monday morning on the affected site and surrounding neighborhood. They ask for anyone who does not live in the immediate area to avoid it.
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 4:42 PM.
