Early morning blaze claims life of Bronson man
BRONSON -- The cause of a fire that killed a Bronson man early Sunday morning has not yet been determined. The name of the victim also has not been released by authorities.
At 2:25 a.m. Sunday, Bourbon County fire units were dispatched to 914 Clay in Bronson in reference to a structure fire. Bourbon County Sheriff Ron Gray said that while attempting to put out the blaze, firefighters were notified of a possible victim inside the structure.
Gray said the body found in Sunday's blaze has not yet been identified.
After the fire was extinguished, the body was located, Gray said.
The body was taken to Kansas City, Kan., for an autopsy and identification, he said.
"The name of the victim is being withheld pending results from the autopsy and positive identification," he said.
The Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office was called to assist in the investigation and determine a cause. Gray said the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office spent "an extensive amount of time" at the scene Sunday and has yet to determine a cause for the fire. Gray said he doesn't believe a cause will ever be determined.
"At this time the cause of the fire is undetermined and still under investigation," he said. "At this point I don't think it is going to be determined."
Gray said foul play is not suspected at this time.
In a recent separate incident, fire ultimately claimed the life of an Arcadia man, Leroy Stroud, 74.
Shortly before 9 p.m. Nov. 30, the Crawford County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of a structure fire in Arcadia. Upon arrival, according to the Crawford County Sheriff's Department, deputies arrived on the scene, they noticed the residence at 605 S. Nelson St. fully engulfed by fire.
Stroud died Dec. 10 at St. John's Burn Center in Springfield, Mo.