One dead after house explosion, fire in Smithville
One person is dead after a house fire and explosion in Smithville on Wednesday evening.
The Platte County Dispatch Center received a call at approximately 6:20 p.m. Wednesday reporting an explosion and house fire in the 300 block of East Meadow Street, according to a Facebook post from Smithville Police Department Chief Jason Lockridge.
First responders from the Smithville Area Fire Protection District, as well as the Kearney Fire District, Central Platte Fire, Camden Point Fire, Edgerton-Trimble Fire and the Northland Regional Ambulance District, responded to the scene, Lockridge said.
Spire Gas and Evergy also responded to “address utility concerns,” Lockridge said.
First responders located one person dead inside the residence, Lockridge said. No other victims are thought to be involved.
As of Wednesday evening, crews remained on scene to extinguish remaining hotspots, Lockridge said. The scene will then be released to the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office for investigation.
This story was originally published January 28, 2026 at 9:50 PM.
