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Independence, MO —
One person died in an explosion in the 3300 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard in western Independence Monday afternoon.
Independence Police and Fire responded to reports of multiple explosions near the intersection of Blue Ridge and Overton around 5 p.m. Monday.
The explosions destroyed an out building on a residential property, killing one person and scattering debris over two city blocks, Independence Police Captain John Cato said.
Damage to the building was so severe Cato said he could not tell if it had been a garage, tool shed or another kind of structure.
The victim had not been identified as of press time.
A neighbor, Russell Braley, shot video of the aftermath from his deck and posted it on Facebook. Braley estimates he lives 100 yards from the blast site.
The video shows smoke billowing from the blast site as a series of secondary explosions pop in the distance.
Police spokesman Tom Gentry said the secondary explosions continued as first responders arrived at the scene.
“Apparently he was making fireworks in the garage,” Braley speculated.
Cato could not confirm the cause of the explosion because investigators were still working the scene.
“As of now there are no toxic chemicals known, no one is in any danger at this point at all, once the initial explosion or explosions passed,” Cato said.
Nearby homes suffered cosmetic damage, including broken windows and damaged siding. Braley said that his garage door had bent in at the bottom panel and was badly creased and that some windows had been shattered.
Cato said some neighbors had agreed to have their utilities turned off after the explosion. He said those services would be restored as quickly as possible and investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would be at the scene into the night.
One person died in an explosion in the 3300 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard in western Independence Monday afternoon.
Independence Police and Fire responded to reports of multiple explosions near the intersection of Blue Ridge and Overton around 5 p.m. Monday.
The explosions destroyed an out building on a residential property, killing one person and scattering debris over two city blocks, Independence Police Captain John Cato said.
Damage to the building was so severe Cato said he could not tell if it had been a garage, tool shed or another kind of structure.
The victim had not been identified as of press time.
A neighbor, Russell Braley, shot video of the aftermath from his deck and posted it on Facebook. Braley estimates he lives 100 yards from the blast site.
The video shows smoke billowing from the blast site as a series of secondary explosions pop in the distance.
Police spokesman Tom Gentry said the secondary explosions continued as first responders arrived at the scene.
“Apparently he was making fireworks in the garage,” Braley speculated.
Cato could not confirm the cause of the explosion because investigators were still working the scene.
“As of now there are no toxic chemicals known, no one is in any danger at this point at all, once the initial explosion or explosions passed,” Cato said.
Nearby homes suffered cosmetic damage, including broken windows and damaged siding. Braley said that his garage door had bent in at the bottom panel and was badly creased and that some windows had been shattered.
Cato said some neighbors had agreed to have their utilities turned off after the explosion. He said those services would be restored as quickly as possible and investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would be at the scene into the night.
