‘Beautiful’ Family Killed in Commercial Building Explosion

A Kansas family died Saturday after a commercial building undergoing renovations exploded, authorities said.

The explosion happened around 5:30 p.m. local time at the 100 block of west Center Street in Bucklin, over 100 miles west of Wichita, Ford County Sheriff Bill Carr said on Facebook Sunday.

“Members of the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, Ford County Fire/EMS and Bucklin Fire Department responded,” Carr added. “Three individuals were located inside the building deceased and a fourth was transported to St. Catherine Hospital in Dodge City for medical treatment.”

In an update on Sunday, Carr identified the deceased as Jerry Isakson, 26, Robin Hamilton, 29, and 19-month-old Stormi Isakson. The fourth person who survived the incident was identified as Christian Stimpert, 26.

An investigation by the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office and Ford County Fire found the explosion was an “accident” and that the building “was being remodeled at the time of the incident,” the Facebook post stated.

It’s currently unclear what led to the explosion, but Carr noted an investigation is ongoing.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Tuesday, Carr reflected on how the explosion has affected first responders along with the community.

“An event, such as the one our first responders witnessed and worked in Bucklin certainly add a stress most never consider to their post-experience lives, but the community itself will be impacted for various reasons and for time to come,” he wrote. “We are all ‘walking wounded’. There is a sense of resiliency that has already been observed.”

“The community of Bucklin and the County of Ford are, and will do, what is needed to provide the support needed for those involved as each recovers from this personal and community loss,” Carr added. “We grieve with the family and friends left behind with more questions than answers. We wish the best possible outcome to the recovering injured.”

After the family had been identified, one commenter wrote on Facebook that “Robin had the biggest heart,” adding, “I cherished our friendship.”

“Little Stormi’s smile was priceless,” added the commenter. “Such a beautiful family.”