Business Destroyed In Fire Sparked By Homemade Explosives

The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that Sunday night’s explosion and fire at Winfrey Plumbing and Heating here resulted from the manufacturing of homemade explosives by the man who died in the fire. Family members have identified the victim as Mike Winfrey, who owned the business. Winfrey, 65, lived in an apartment above the business.
According to a press release from the fire marshal, an interagency investigation involving the Grand Island Fire Department, Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Hall County attorney “determined that this incident was the result of manufacturing of homemade explosives by the deceased.”