Firefighter dead after his home explodes

Update: Fire Chief: Firefighter found dead in home explosion
Ramonell James was found dead among the charred remains of his house. The man found dead in the burned remains of his house has officially been identified as 55-year-old Waco Firefighter Ramonell James. Waco Fire Chief John D. Johnston confirmed the man’s identity saying he “was a good employee and his presence will be missed.”

James was assigned to Fire Station #11 on Imperial Drive; he would have been working there as part of the “A Shift” Friday.

Fellow firefighters say James always put his family first; “he always provided for them very well.”

His son, Ramonell Stephens, is in Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas with burns covering his body. Troopers have him in their custody in connection with the explosion.

News Channel 25 learned Thursday that the body found in the rubble was suspected to be James’ but had not been officially identified.
By Patrick Tolbert at KXXV News, Waco
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KCEN News in Waco reports Waco firefighter killed at his home in Downsville.
Report from KCEN News, Waco
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The man found dead in the burned remains of his house has officially been identified as 55-year-old Waco Firefighter Ramonell James.

Waco Fire Chief John D. Johnston confirmed the man’s identity saying he “was a good employee and his presence will be missed.”

James was assigned to Fire Station #11 on Imperial Drive; he would have been working there as part of the “A Shift” Friday.

Fellow firefighters say James always put his family first; “he always provided for them very well.”

His son, Ramonell Stephens, is in Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas with burns covering his body. Troopers have him in their custody in connection with the explosion.

News Channel 25 learned Thursday that the body found in the rubble was suspected to be James’ but had not been officially identified.

Updated report from KXXV News, Waco Temple Killeen
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Update on 13th from The Waco Tribune-Herald
One person is dead after a home exploded in Downsville at around 10:30 Wednesday night. The McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, Robinson Police, and firefighters from Robinson, Downsville, and Golinda all responded to the explosion.

Two neighbors at the scene told us a Waco firefighter lives at that home in the 100 Block of MJR Road, which is now destroyed.Authorities are treating the area like a crime scene.

There are no reports of other injuries, but details are still coming in.
By Lauren Keeffe at KXXV News, Waco
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One Confirmed Dead in Robinson House Fire
A late night fire Wednesday destroyed a home and claimed the life of at least one person. A McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Investigator confirmed a body was found in rubble left from the structure fire.

Several agencies responded just after 10:00 p.m. Wednesday to a call of structure fire at the intersection of M J R Road and Radle Road near Robinson.

Witnesses told News 10 they heard a loud explosion before seeing flames coming from the house.

Robinson Volunteer Fire Department was the primary responder but was assisted by the Golinda Volunteer Fire Department.

Robinson Police and McLennan County Sheriff’s Deputies established then later expanded a perimeter around the fire scene. A Texas Ranger officer was also present on the scene.

A total of six engines responded to the fire that completely destroyed the home; nearby houses were not affected by the fire.

A McLennan County Justice of the Peace was later dispatched to the scene but authorities were not able to release the identity of the victim. The fire remains under investigation.
By Micah T. Williams at KWTX News, Waco