Fire officials consider fireworks as potential cause of deadly Gladstone home explosion

GLADSTONE, Mo. (KCTV) - The city of Gladstone began demolition and cleanup efforts Monday after a powerful house explosion killed an 83-year-old man and shook an entire neighborhood.

Emergency crews responded to the blast at 11:14 a.m. near NE 74th Terrace on Saturday May 30. Witnesses report hearing what sounded like claps of thunder and feeling the ground shake with such force that it knocked items off walls in neighboring homes.

Smoke from the destroyed home could be seen across the neighborhood.

“I was in my driveway just working on appliances like I normally do, and all of a sudden a loud explosion, and I could tell it was a house that blew up,” said Keith Taylor, a neighbor who witnessed the explosion.

The Gladstone Fire Department confirmed the victim was Richard Adams, 83, the homeowner. Fire officials say highly combustible materials were being stored on the property near Northeast 74th Terrace. While the cause remains under investigation, they believe fireworks may have contributed to the explosion. A gas leak has been ruled out.

“It was so unbelievable,” Taylor added. “I mean, you could see the sky open up with all the smoke and flames, everything.”

Building inspectors went door to door to assess damage and found that at least one neighboring home sustained structural damage, including broken windows and damaged wall s.

Mayor Les Smith described the explosion as a tragedy that has deeply affected the community.

“I think the first sense is profound sadness,” Smith said. “They really enjoyed having the gentleman as a neighbor. He was a good neighbor, he was a good person. But they also are very resilient.”

READ MORE: Cleanup begins after Gladstone devastated by fatal weekend explosion

Neighbors say they sprung into action to check in on each other and the tragedy has brought the community closer together.

“It happened in your neighborhood and of course you are concerned with that and everyone is concerned with each other,” Taylor said. “But what you really need to think about is the people it immediately affected.”

Taylor also noted the neighbors have shown in the aftermath.

“The good that came out of it was that the neighbors were so close and caring and willing to do what they could do to help each other,” he said.

Gladstone officials are urging residents to practice caution when using fireworks, especially as the Fourth of July approaches. The use of fireworks in the city is prohibited.

“With it being this time of year, I believe it is important to some of the safety aspects around fireworks,” Smith said. “They are very very dangerous if not used properly and not constructed properly, so maybe that is a bit of a life lesson for all of us perhaps.”

The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate the exact cause of the explosion. Cleanup of the property and surrounding debris is ongoing.

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