SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a deadly explosion and fire in Wichita.
Just before noon Thursday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received reports of an explosion at an apartment complex garage located at 8406 E. Harry in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.
Wichita Police and Fire personnel responded to find a garage on the east side of the complex ablaze. Amidst firefighting efforts, the body of a deceased man was discovered near the garage.
Authorities are in the process of confirming his identity and informing next-of-kin.
In response to the incident, additional resources, including detectives, the bomb squad from the Wichita Police Department, Wichita Fire Investigators, and federal investigators from the FBI and ATF, were deployed to the scene.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the victim was engaged in mixing an unidentified substance before the explosion, potentially linked to illegal homemade pyrotechnics manufacturing.
The ongoing investigation is a collaborative effort between the Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to Moses.