Firefighters found a body Wednesday afternoon in the rubble of a southeast Colorado Springs house that exploded and burst into flames Tuesday night.
The search for victims could not begin until late afternoon because of hot spots in the debris of the tri-level home in the 3300 block of Knotwood Drive, Fire Department spokeswoman Sunny Smaldino said.
Searchers also discovered the remains of two dogs, but it was still unknown whether more than one person was inside the house when it blew up at 11:54 p.m. Tuesday, Smaldino said.
The cause of the blast had not been determined. Investigators planned to suspend the search after collecting evidence near the body and will resume the search this morning.
Firefighters arrived five minutes after the blast to find flames reaching nearby trees, singeing branches and threatening nearby homes.
According to fire officials, a 74-year-old woman and her 51-year-old son lived in the home in the Pikes Peak Park neighborhood. The El Paso County Assessor’s Office lists the homeowner as Edna Ainbinder.
The body was found in the “living quarters,” while the bodies of the dogs were found in a front bedroom, Smaldino said.
“We’re still trying to confirm who they are and where they may be if they weren’t home,” Smaldino said.
Ron Sanders Sr., who lives next door, said the mother’s and son’s vehicles were parked at the house as firefighters fought the blaze.
“You couldn’t tell where the front of the house was, where the front door was,” Sanders said. “We’re just concerned about our neighbors. It looked like something out of a movie. “
