SBI and state fire marshal leading investigation into Wednesday night’s fatal fire

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Zach Glenn

CULLMAN –  The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation, along with the Alabama State Fire Marshal, are now leading the investigation into Wednesday night's fatal house fire in Cullman. Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick late tonight officially identified Francis "Frank" Kane, 52, of Cullman as the victim of the blaze, which occurred at 1651 Catoma Lane.

Kane was involved in a standoff with local authorities for approximately four hours Wednesday that started when a family member came to the home and observed that Kane had doused the residence with gasoline. The relative was able to evacuate Kane's elderly mother, and Kane at some point barricaded himself in a bedroom of the home.

"It didn't end the way we wanted it to," Cullman City Police Chief Kenny Culpepper said somberly.

Authorities were attempting to make contact with Kane, who was known to local law enforcement from previous incidents, when the home went up in flames.

"The gasoline in the house was to a level where we couldn't go in and talk to him," said Culpepper. "In the past, we've been able to go in and speak to him. Because the accelerant had been spread on all on the carpets, we couldn't put people inside. We were trying to negotiate with him, and had Cullman Fire Rescue on standby, but we couldn't get a response. We were in the process of sending a robot with a camera in to see what was happening, and all of a sudden the house just flashed. It started back in the bedroom where he was barricaded and spread throughout the whole house. At that point Cullman Fire Rescue and officers on the scene tried to help and put it out as quickly as they could, but unfortunately, he is deceased." 

Dispatch reports at the time the fire began were that Kane had doused himself with gasoline before he allegedly ignited the blaze; however, upon examination of the body and the scene, Kilpatrick would only say that those reports were likely incorrect. Kilpatrick says he cannot release the official cause of death until the state forensics lab in Huntsville completes an autopsy on the body.

The incident began with reports that a man had barricaded himself inside his home with gasoline. According to Culpepper, Joint Tactical Force officers, from both the CPD and the Cullman County Sheriff's Office, were working in conjunction with Cullman Fire Rescue to determine if there was, in fact, any accelerant present in the home, and if so, if it was an amount sufficient to cause an explosion. Neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution.

"We received a call about an individual that's had some mental health issues," said Culpepper from the scene earlier in the evening. "We've had to take him into custody in the past. According to a relative, he purchased a container of gas and has barricaded himself in the bedroom."

Culpepper identified the man as Frank Kane at that time.

"We want to get him out and get him some help," Culpepper told The Tribune shortly after the incident started.

Members of Cullman Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were on standby. Culpepper says two or three emergency responders were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.


Background: http://www.cullmansense.com/articles/2017/02/01/reports-cpd-scene-where-man-has-allegedly-barricaded-himself-inside-home

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