Fireworks Explosion Wichita KS – On Sunday, a house in Wichita, Kansas, exploded, resulting in the death of one person and causing flaming debris to scatter into nearby yards. Neighbor Craig Hubbard recounted hearing a sequence of explosions, capturing one of them on video. He reported hearing a loud blast, which caused the windows to rattle, followed by subsequent explosions that scattered debris in all directions.
Reports of the explosion were received by Sedgwick County dispatchers around 5:30 p.m. Upon arrival at the scene, fire crews worked to extinguish the flames, while fireworks ignited amidst their efforts, according to Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz
Wichita Fire Department on the deceased having produced his own firework
During a news briefing on Monday, Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz reported that the individual who perished in a house explosion on Easter Sunday in southwest Wichita may have been producing their own fireworks. “Based on statements given by homeowners and neighbors regarding the explosions, it seems that fireworks production was mentioned,” Ocadiz stated.
Who is the victim of the Fireworks Explosion in Wichita KS
In Southwest Wichita, a man and multiple pets perished in a house fire and ensuing explosions. Firefighters were dispatched to West Blake and South Cardington Street at approximately 5:30 p.m., where they encountered heavy smoke and flames emanating from the house.
- According to witnesses, the explosions made it difficult for the responders to extinguish the flames. Wichita police have confirmed that the victim found in the garage of the home was 48-year-old Kendal James.
The neighbors’ account of the fireworks explosion in Wichita
- The neighbors of the typically tranquil neighborhood were taken aback by the three explosive occurrences, which were so violent that they feared for their own homes’ safety. Fire crews fought the blaze defensively, keeping it contained.
- After the fire was under control, the firefighters conducted a search and discovered the lifeless bodies of several pets and Kendal James. The remainder of the house was unoccupied.
According to one neighbor, the initial explosion was incredibly deafening. “I could feel it…it was the most thunderous sound I’ve ever heard,” they said. Another neighbor concurred with this statement, adding, “I could almost sense it before I heard it. I was under the impression that my house or my neighbor’s house had exploded.“
The fire posed an additional challenge because the house contained many fireworks. It is suspected that the two occupants of the home were manufacturing fireworks. The exact types of fireworks that were being produced, as well as their potential involvement in igniting the fire, remain unknown.
The Wichita Fire Department is conducting an inquiry as we write.
How residents shared their experiences
Resident Zach Sherman, who also resides in the vicinity, reported that the event felt like an earthquake. “I perceived a loud booming noise, and the entire house vibrated,” he recalled. “I was perplexed and thought, ‘What’s happening?’ Then, all of a sudden, we went outside and witnessed the thick smoke rising up.”
A video submitted by Darwin Davila, depicting the magnitude of the explosions, flames, and smoke, was shown by a viewer. It has been suggested that the individual who lost their life in the fire, Kendal James, was creating fireworks, which necessitates a permit. However, it appears that he did not possess one.
The deceased in the fireworks explosion in Wichita probably had non-licensed access to fireworks
Bradley Chrisp, the Fire Marshal for Sedgwick County District 1, stated, “There is a license known as a hobbyist license that can be obtained from the state fire marshal’s office if you want to construct your own fireworks. It’s a permit process that includes background checks and facility inspections to ensure appropriate storage and production practices.”
“That address is not on our records,” according to Wally Roberts, Chief of Investigations for Kansas State Fire Marshal. According to Roberts, Kendal James’s name is not present in its records for a permit for commercial fireworks. “To handle and ignite fireworks, you must attend training courses and pass an exam, both during your training and through us to obtain your shooter’s license,” Roberts added.
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