Emporia Police and Emporia Fire have issued positive confirmation on the two people who died in Wednesday’s house explosion in east Emporia.
Darrell Bontrager, age 78, and Terry Bontrager, age 73, owned the home at 1814 East Sixth which was leveled by an explosion late Wednesday afternoon. Darrell Bontrager was a longtime postal carrier, while Terry Bontrager was hired as an administrative assistant by Emporia’s Radio Stations/KVOE in 2000 and retired in 2019, helping their son, Daryn, with operations at Do-B’s after her retirement from the radio stations.
An investigation continues into the cause, but authorities do not suspect foul play and have said the early indications point to an accident.
The Bontrager family has asked for privacy at this time.
7:45 am Friday: Update pending after Wednesday home explosion
Details are still developing after Wednesday’s house explosion in east Emporia that apparently left two people dead.
Following initial statements from Emporia Fire early Wednesday evening and a joint statement involving Emporia Fire and Emporia Police late Wednesday night, no new information was divulged Thursday about the incident that unfolded at 1814 East Sixth just before 5 pm. The explosion leveled the house, which was fully involved in flames when Emporia Fire and other responding agencies got to the scene a few minutes later. Fire damage did not spread to nearby homes or garages, but the extent of structural damages to those nearby locations has not been announced.
Two people were found soon after investigators began sifting through debris Wednesday evening. Their names have not officially been released.
Emporia Fire and the Office of Kansas State Fire Marshal continue investigating. Early indications point to an accidental but currently-unspecified cause.
