As Independence firefighters arrived at a late night fire on March 10, several explosions came from the vacant home.
Shorty after 11:30 p.m., Shift 2 of the Independence Fire/EMS Department were alerted for a reported fire in a vacant dwelling. The first alarm included a pumper, a 75-foot quint and two ALS ambulances.
Police officers arrived and found a working fire. A second alarm was struck bringing in the department chief and off-duty personnel who staffed a second pumper.
A 2 1/2-inch crosslay was stretched to the front door where a heavy volume of fire was venting. As they approached the home, a large explosion occured in the front room and it forced the crew from the front porch.
Command switched to a defensive attack and soon after, several more violent explosions were heard.
It was later determined that the expolsions were caused by oxygen cylinders that had beeen stored in the home.
Firefighters remained on scene for more than three hours. The fire was listed as suspicious, undetermined.
Units on scene: Ladder 1, Engine 1, Engine 2, Medic 1, Medic 2, Chief 301
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