Emergency crews respond to fatal vehicle explosion in Kitchener (update)
Posted Aug 14, 2020 03:13:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A chaotic scene in front of the Kitchener courthouse Friday morning.
One person is dead following a vehicle fire and explosion in the Frederick and Duke Street area of Kitchener.
Police shared on Monday, August 17, further investigation revealed that an incendiary device was ignited within the vehicle, which caused the explosion.
They say they believe fire was intentionally set, and they are not looking for any suspects.
On Friday, police alleged the explosion was caused by a suspected improvised explosive device.
“At this point in our investigation, it is our belief that the male who is deceased may be responsible for the explosion. We are not looking for any other suspects,” says Superintendent Eugene Fenton.
Police has closed two more areas of Kitchener to continue their investigation – Hearthwood Drive and Grand Flats Trail are closed as police search residences in relation to the investigation.
Peel Regional Police's Explosives Disposal Unit is assisting to ensure the safety of the residences.
Regional Police and Kitchener Fire crews were called to the scene at around 10:30 a.m., and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze.
The vehicle itself was parked on Duke Street, across from the parking garage.
Mike Sylvester is a construction worker at a highrise building going up at the corner of Duke and Frederick.
“I just came back to the job site, and heard this loud bang and looked up at the building to see what it was,” he said, “I had seen the flames shooting out from over here.”
He said it sounded “almost like a tail gate on a dump truck slamming shut.”
Aaron McComb works with Sylvester, and was in the area picking up a paycheque with his wife and children when it happened.
He, along with another bystander, went to the vehicle and realized someone was inside.
However when the car door was opened up, the flames were too much to handle.
“The flames were so intense, they were so hot,” he said, “It was really tough, so I backed off and we tried to call 911.”
McComb notes there were a couple smaller explosions when he contemplated going back over, and with his loved ones at the scene, he decided against it.
Instead, he helped to block off the road and got his wife to move their vehicle, parked beside the courthouse on Frederick.
“The smoke was very thick, very black,” he said, “And the wind was blowing it…directly over us.”
“We were getting the full effect, and there was shrapnel. A couple of the explosions sent shrapnel in the air, and I absolutely didn't want my family to be a part of that.”
The identity of the deceased is unknown at this time.
Roads are closed in the area with a large police presence on scene.
With files from Christine Clark.
Another closure. Regional police and Fire set up at Frederick and Duke in Kitchener. Vehicle explosion right outside the courthouse @570NEWS @570traffic pic.twitter.com/yANQd4fD7h
— Phi Doan (@that_phidoan) August 14, 2020
VIDEO: @WRPSToday and @KitchFire are on scene of a vehicle explosion right near the courthouse at Duke and Frederick in Kitchener. It's one of a trio of investigations on the go. @570NEWS pic.twitter.com/bqVECF4OFy
— Mark Pare (@MarkLPare) August 14, 2020
