Investigators found strategically placed accelerants in the debris of a house explosion and written messages warning public safety officials to stay away, leading them to determine that a Kalispell man intentionally set his home on fire in an act of suicide in the early hours of March 9.
John Parsons, 57, died in a home fire and secondary explosion just after 2 a.m. that leveled the house and small garage at 725 Ninth Ave. W. Debris from the blast was found as far as two blocks away by officials with the Kalispell Fire Department.
Investigators found propane cylinders, chemicals, live ammunition and other accelerants placed throughout the residence and property that could hamper efforts of public safety personnel, according to a report released Monday by the fire department.
Public safety officials later found notes at the front and rear of the property advising people to stay away from the scene.
“Overwhelming evidence in regards to personal information and indicators on scene indicate that owner/occupant of the residence intentionally caused the incident in an act of suicide,” the report said.
There was no evidence that showed natural gas was used or was a factor in the incident, the report said.
Fire Chief Dave Dedman said the home was fully engulfed in flames when responding public safety officers arrived on scene at 2:15 a.m. Surrounding homes sustained minor damage, but no other injuries were reported, Dedman said.
Alice Blond, who lived next door to Parsons, said the blast jarred her and her family awake immediately.
“It was just a big old ‘boom!’” she said. “I looked out my bedroom window and it was all red.”
Reverberations from the blast were felt throughout the neighborhood. Some neighbors reported the blast knocked pictures off the walls. Others said it sounded like the neighborhood was “being bombed.”
Christy Madsen, who lives nearby, was immediately roused awake.
“The impact from the explosion, it literally felt like the house went sideways,” she said. “We woke right up and the walls looked like they moved.”