March 26--An explosion and fire Sunday morning took the life of a 64-year-old man but spared his 86-year-old father.
"We heard a big explosion, looked outside, the whole front was on fire, so Amanda (Bennett) called 911," said Linda Bennett, who lives next door. "We could feel the heat."
The explosion at 2408 El Tivoli Drive pushed in the bedroom wall of the father's apartment and knocked pictures off the wall. The victim's father, who lived in 2406 El Tivoli Drive, said he heard the explosion and thought someone was trying to break in the duplex.
St. Joseph firefighters rolled at about 4:45 a.m. Sunday from the nearby station at 18th and Walnut streets.
When the truck topped the hill on 22nd Street, the crew could see the flames, said Capt. Tig Malloy, a St. Joseph Fire Department official.
The first thing Mr. Malloy asked was if anybody remained inside either unit of the duplex. Neighbors said the son was still in there, Mr. Malloy said.
Battalion Chief Russell Moore ordered a search and rescue operation.
Everyone in the immediate vicinity of the duplex felt heat.
Within the first minutes temperatures climbed to between 1,200 and 1,500 degrees and the roof collapsed, Mr. Moore said.
"At that point, I ordered everyone out and this became a defensive operation to keep the fire from spreading," Mr. Moore said.
The duplex will be a total loss with damages estimated between $80,000 and $100,000, said Steve Henrichson, an inspector.
The east side, 2408 El Tivoli Drive, was consumed by flames while 2406 El Tivoli Drive only suffered smoke damage, Mr. Henrichson said.
The victim's father, a World War II Navy veteran, will be able to save most of his personal possessions thanks to modern construction. The son who died in the fire was a Vietnam-era Navy veteran.
The duplex had a double layer of Sheetrock forming a fire wall between the two units, which kept the fire from spreading before firemen arrived on the scene, said Chief Mike Dalsing.
"In all probability no one would have died if there had been a sprinkler system," Mr. Dalsing said.
The cause of the explosion and fire was under investigation. The name of the victim was not released Sunday.
Marshall White can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPWhite.
Copyright 2012 - St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.
