A devastating house explosion in Sacramento's Oak Park neighborhood Thursday morning has led to the death of one individual, according to fire officials. Sacramento Fire Department arrived at the residence, located on the 4000 block of 39th St., around 6:15 a.m. following reports of a fire and multiple explosions, as reported by ABC10.
The impact of the explosion was so severe that doors and windows in the vicinity were shaken and broken, scattering debris across properties, as reported by ABC10. Captain Justin Sylvia of the Sacramento Fire Department described the scene, saying, "When they arrived, there were there were multiple explosions that were happening, as well as an explosion reported prior to their arrival." He further explained the obvious signs of disruption, noting, "There's some windows that are blown out, so some obvious type of explosion. We're just trying to figure out what caused that explosion," in a statement obtained by ABC10.
Meanwhile, KCRA 3 spoke to Ed Williams, a neighbor who discussed a chilling conversation with the homeowner prior to the tragedy. "I know he did it on purpose," Williams said. "I'm not, there's no guessing at it. He told me yesterday. I'm like 'Dude, come on. What do you got, like gunpowder?' He's like, 'I don't wanna say, I have what it would take to blow this house up, and if I do it's gonna be with me in it,'" according to a KCRA 3 interview. This alarming admission adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation and raises questions about the intentions behind the explosion.
Fire crews risked their lives to fight a fire that spread to a nearby home's attic and another building. Due to the heavy damage, they couldn’t reach the main part of the fire right away. A body was later found in the wreckage of the original home. According to CBS News Sacramento, the Sacramento Fire Department confirmed the discovery. Firefighters say "they found one person dead towards the front of the home where the reported explosion occurred," as stated in a report by CBS News Sacramento. Investigations continue as officials seek answers to the many questions surrounding this tragic event.
