UPDATE: The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are now working with Wichita fire investigators to determine the cause of Sunday’s fatal house fire near Pawnee and 119th Street West. The fire broke out around 5:30 p.m. at a home near South Cardington and West Blake.
Fire investigators said there were three explosions in the home, and fireworks were involved. One explosion caused crews to go defensive and stay outside the structure to get the fire under control.
A 48-year-old man died inside the home, and he was identified as Kendal James. Several pets were also found dead.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Kendal’s wife Kelly and family. Kendal was a longtime supporter of the non-profit animal rescue group Beauties and Beasts.
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.gofundme.com%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3DMcCelgEyxf19hZNOeSlreBp7tzE8rvjPYgm3JULoXJyBjxZGsP48af7jNmuz6i8vBMsxU-2BFtA25jvXTAEfWnQw-3D-3DGbub_nUO7r8qWRcx-2FdQTb-2BqtsWTFZabYSAHDdSpwYFQ-2BowKxCvAMtulayFSpqxDty5cVCTEeLSWXLQLKB1KLfR2Qzf07Lx-2Fmfv77gbaZkHj1Jn81K9btRZHUEZZjDKShuYJ6ADNh4R05p1leGoCNchv3lv7SP8Cx-2FlU3sJZ1lL07WjCnykik1F6-2BhKIqR7cN7q3dovfo4o-2Bo2nvmSIzldwPn6zeYgS1oYatecnqDt-2F3qIQB-2FTNwwzzrzcH4ak1n9CXISw7A-2B7-2Bk7G7N4V8v5dbwUSbTEhZn0-2FYXsDruoySUi41Kv4t1j3HwcdkO0HbjrN-2F5ux&data=05%7C01%7Cgeorge.lawson%40kfdi.com%7C1eb3cbcdfa7846e0aa0a08db3aa99f81%7C31dc395664af4674b8b57a648c17df7e%7C0%7C0%7C638168272423929537%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HYlcmo4rsqYhqEifk2sU0rqOdtWiyPfc6RallNJMkps%3D&reserved=0
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One person was killed late Sunday afternoon when at least two explosions were reported at a home in southwest Wichita.
Crews were sent to a home near South Cardington Street and West Blake Street around 5:30 p.m. That’s a neighborhood northeast of the intersection of Pawnee and 119th Street West. Wichita police reported that the home contained a large amount of fireworks. The home was engulfed in flames and a portion of the roof collapsed.
The victim was found in the garage of the home. No other details have been released.
[ photo: KWCH ]
