Pyrotechnic Powder Blamed In Fatal Fire

Investigators said homemade pyrotechnic powder is responsible for a sparking a fatal fire at an Olathe duplex late Monday night.

The powder is what creates the audible boom in fireworks. Pyrotechnic powder is illegal because of its volatility.

Ronald Anderson, 49, died in the explosion at 106 S. Cory Circle. His caretaker and roommate, John Sasaki, 45, suffered serious burns and is recovering in a hospital.

The blast was so powerful it blew out the walls, windows and the front door.

"The first explosion was so loud my ears are still ringing from it," neighbor PJ Trammell told KMBC's Peggy Breit. "Thirty, 45 seconds later, there were two 'boom, boom' -- back to back."

Trammell said his home was jolted. Nails popped out of the joists connecting the two sides of the duplex, tiles in the shower came crashing to the floor and smoke poured into Trammell's unit through vents.

Trammell said he was astounded to hear that investigators found pyrotechnic powder in the duplex.

"It's kind of scary because that kind of stuff would blow this whole building up," Trammell said.

He said he never would have guessed that his neighbors of eight years would be involved in making fireworks.

"It's shocking. It's hard to believe. They don't seem like the kind of guys that'd be doing stuff like that," Trammell said.

Investigators said they're trying to determine what role the men had in concocting the powder.

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Tags:

• KMBC
• Olathe
• Kansas
• fatal
• fire
• homemade
• Pyrotechnic
• Powder