Lincoln Police, Fire and Rescue investigating fatal vehicle fire

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – First responders found one person dead at the scene of a vehicle fire on Monday morning.

Around 11:15 a.m. fire crews were called to an apartment complex near north 14th and Superior Streets on reports of a vehicle fire and explosion.

Battalion Chief Mark Majors said a vehicle was completely engulfed in flames when crews arrived.

Assistant Police Chief Jason Stille said oxygen canisters were found near the vehicle but he is unsure if they played any factor in the fire.

Braden Forey, a resident at the apartment complex, said the explosion woke everyone up.

“It sounded like a piece of TNT going off,” Forey said. “It made my heart skip a beat.”

When Forey ran to see what happened, he saw flames shooting ten feet up from the SUV.

After the fire was out, he said the vehicle looked as if it was peeled open like a can.

Stille confirmed that a man was found dead outside of the vehicle.

He did not say who the victim is or what the cause of death was but an autopsy had been scheduled.

The area was shut down while crews continued to investigate the scene.

Investigators have not yet determined the total cost of damage done in the fire.  However, the vehicle is a total loss and some buildings in the area did sustain damage.

This is a developing story, return to Channel 8 as updates become available.