SEDGWICK COUNTY—The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Kansas State Fire Marshall continue investigating the cause of a house fire Easter Sunday in Wichita that left 48-year-old Kendal James dead."
The explosion appears to have been caused by the illegal manufacturing of improvised explosives devices, according to ATF spokesman John Ham. Evidence recovered at the scene has been sent to ATF’s forensics laboratory for analysis. That forensic testing will play a critical role in formulating a definitive cause, according to Ham.
Just after 5:30p.m. April 9. crews responded to a house fire near South Parkridge Street and West Blake Street, according to Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz.
While traveling to the scene, additional callers were reporting an explosion in the home. As crews were beginning to attack the blaze, another explosion occurred. This forced fire crews into a defensive mode before they could attempt to make entry into the residence.
When firefighters did get inside the home, investigators found James and several pets that had died. A second resident was not at home when the fire started, according to Ocadiz.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Ocadiz. Due to the number of explosions, possibly three. One from the initial explosion, another as fire crews arrived and one later during the incident.
There have been initial reports from neighbors and a second resident of the home that fireworks were being manufactured, according to Ocadiz.
Wichita Police Explosive Ordinance team did remove some fireworks from the home, according to Ocadiz. However, investigators have not reported the specific type and the amount of fireworks discovered. Ocadiz did not release a damage estimate Monday morning.