Investigators are working to piece together what happened to cause a Temple home to explode with fire and kill at least one man Tuesday afternoon.

Cotton County Undersheriff David Johnston said dispatchers received a call shortly after 2 p.m. about an explosion at a home on Minnesota Street, near Walnut, that had washed over the 800-square-foot house. The smoking and black-charred remnants, surrounded by fencing and other materials, appeared to have been blown back from the explosion's force.

"We got here fairly quick and it was totally engulfed in flames," said Temple Fire Chief Chris Medcalf. "We got it out fairly fast but it was really going there."

Johnston said that at least one man was found dead inside but he was awaiting the state medical examiner and fire marshal's investigation at the scene in the town's northwest quadrant. He said the name of the victim won't be released until the medical examiner's investigation and notification of family members. He declined to speculate on the cause of the explosion and fire but didn't rule out propane as the ignition propellant. Damage was contained to the one house.

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