The Great Bend man who died in what was reported as an explosion and fire at 220 Heizer last Thursday afternoon has been identified as Travis Watkins, local authorities said Wednesday afternoon.

The Great Bend Fire Department responded to the report of a shed on fire at around 3 p.m. Thursday, Great Bend Interim Fire Chief Brent Smith said. Upon arrival, crews found a small outbuilding fully involved in flames. 

Crews made a quick knockdown of the blaze and initiated an interior search, where a deceased victim was located.  

Crews then extinguished remaining hotspots.  

The fire is accidental in nature and was investigated by fire investigators from the Great Bend Fire Department, Office of the State Fire Marshal, and detectives from the Great Bend Police Department, Smith said. Also assisting at the scene was the GBPD, Wheatland Electric and Kansas Gas Service.

Officials were on the scene for five hours.