Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at a home that exploded Thursday near Emporia. One person was confirmed dead in the afternoon explosion and subsequent fire.

Emporia ? One person has been found dead in the burned remains of a house that exploded Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

Emporia Fire Chief Jack Taylor said authorities had been unable to account for the person who lived in the home. But it was not immediately known whether the remains found in the rubble were those of the resident.

No one else was known to be missing, and a search of the structure did not yield additional victims, Taylor said.

The department received a call about 12:30 p.m. about a possible explosion at the single-story rural residence about six miles southwest of Emporia. When crews arrived, the house was engulfed in flames.

Firefighters spent an hour getting the blaze under control but were unable to begin searching the structure until 4 p.m. The victim was found about an hour later. An autopsy was scheduled for today.

Taylor said the evidence supports that an explosion occurred at the home, but its cause was not known.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office has been asked to assist with the investigation.