Arlington fire officials say one man was killed and another critically injured in an explosion at a residential garage while they were tampering with illegal consumer-grade fireworks.
Firefighters were called to a home on the 6100 block of Hedgeapple Court at about 11 p.m. Thursday after several reports of an explosion were received, some from as far away as three blocks.
Within minutes of the first report Arlington firefighters arrived at the home and found a man, later identified as 23-year-old Dustin Louis, on the lawn suffering from severe burns. Firefighters located another man, later identified as 24-year-old Jared Backus, inside the garage deceased.
Firefighters said only smoldering pieces of content remained in the garage after a fast-moving flash fire consumed much of the interior, but left the structure of the home intact.
Louis was said to be in stable condition and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas with second-degree burns to his legs and torso.
Joe Morris, shift commander with the Arlington Fire Department, said the two men had been tampering with illegal consumer-grade fireworks and that there was evidence the gunpowder had been removed. Officials declined to elaborate further on what the men may have been doing with the contents of the fireworks that led to the explosion.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
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Police said both men were students at the University of Texas at Arlington.
NBC 5's Chris Van Horne, Todd Davis and Frank Heinz contributed to this report.
