Authorities investigate explosion, death at home in southwest Wichita
Update here:
Authorities are investigating what caused a southwest Wichita home to explode, leaving one man dead Sunday evening.
Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a call of a house fire/explosion around 5:30 p.m. at a home near west Blake Street and south Cardington Street, Wichita Fire Department battalion chief Jose Ocadiz said.
Neighbors reported seeing explosions before fire crews arrived, and crews saw one explosion after they arrived, Ocadiz said.
Several fire engines and roughly 35 firefighters worked to put the fire out. Investigators found the man’s body in the garage of the home, Ocadiz said.
The man’s identity, age and hometown have not been released. It’s also unclear if other people were in the home at the time of the explosion.
Investigators, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, are working to piece together what led up to the explosion. Ocadiz said there were initial reports that there might have been fireworks inside the home.
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This story was originally published April 10, 2023 at 10:11 AM with the headline "Authorities investigate explosion, death at home in southwest Wichita."
CORRECTION: Early versions of this report incorrectly named one of the streets near the explosion. It is Cardington.