Kansas Man Dies in House Fire

OLATHE, Kan. --

Investigators said smoking near an oxygen tank may have sparked a fatal fire late Monday night in Olathe.

Firefighters were called to the 100 block of South Cory Circle at about 11:30 p.m. Neighbors reported hearing explosions.

"You could see the big flash. Then all of a sudden I saw a man come out and he was screaming, "Call somebody. Call somebody." And then all of sudden the whole thing just exploded," neighbor Teresa Seymour said.

Authorities said Ronald B. Anderson, 49, was killed in the fire. A 45-year-old roommate was critically hurt when he tried to go back into the house to rescue Anderson.

Fire crews quickly put out the fire. Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.

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