64-year-old man dies in St. Joseph duplex fire

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) - A 64-year-old man has died in an explosion and fire at a St. Joseph duplex.

The St. Joseph News-Press (http://bit.ly/GPrShS) reported that firefighters responded to the blaze around 4:45 a.m. Sunday. The man's 86-year-old father lived next to his son and survived. The father reported that the explosion pushed in his bedroom wall and knocked pictures off the wall.

St. Joseph Fire Department Battalion Chief Russell Moore says temperatures quickly soared and the roof collapsed. Because of the dangerous conditions, Moore ordered everyone out of the building and began focusing on keeping the fire from spreading.

An inspector estimated damages at between $80,000 and $100,000.

The cause of the explosion and fire is under investigation. The name of the victim was not released Sunday morning.