Body found in Springfield home after man reportedly set fire

A man’s body was found Tuesday afternoon under rubble in a charred Springfield home.

Police say the man barricaded himself inside the home in the 900 block of West Ildereen Street at 10 a.m., set the fire and then shot off several rounds.

A woman who escaped the home before the shots reportedly called 911 to alert authorities.

Springfield police and firefighters responded to the scene and simultaneously tried to communicate with the armed suspect and extinguish the fire, which eventually sent visible flames shooting out of two large windows.

Firefighters had to hang back initially as armored vehicles and SWAT officers maneuvered around the burning house.

Police say they were unable to make contact with the man in the time it took to put out the fire.

At 1:30 p.m., Sgt. Chris Wells with Springfield police said authorities were able to confirm that there was no one alive inside the house, but they had not yet found a body.

After further investigation, authorities were able to find a body buried under some rubble. The man's cause of death is under investigation and authorities have not yet released his name.

Neighbors said they could hear police trying to negotiate with someone in the house, but no one came out.

The street was blocked off in both directions as half a dozen fire trucks, several police cars and an ambulance responded to the situation at the house.

Wells said police are working to determine what led up to the incident. He said no shots were fired at police or firefighters as they responded.

Wells said firefighters and police officers had to work together to extinguish the fire and also keep neighbors safe from the possibility of an armed and dangerous person inside.

"We follow an incident command system," Wells said. "Basically they’ve got their task of trying to make sure they contain the fire from spreading to other structures around. We also provide the safety and security as well. We work hand in hand to make sure we accomplish that."

Two armored vehicles responded to the scene, and police officers had rifles drawn and pointed at the house while firefighters worked on quelling the flames.

The smoke coming from the home started to build at about 11:30 a.m, and firefighters were lifted up on an aerial ladder to spray water on the house.

At about noon, the situation appeared to be calming down. Around 12:30 p.m., firefighters and SWAT team members entered the home.

OzarksTraffic.com said a house fire report was logged at 10:06 a.m. Tuesday for a home in the 900 block of West Ildereen Street.

The area is located a few blocks west of Campbell Avenue near Parkview High School.

Springfield Public Schools spokeswoman Pam Bodine told the News-Leader that students who were on the field at JFK Stadium near Parkview were directed to return to the high school.

Bodine said Parkview’s external doors are locked — which is typical throughout the school day — and student movement has not been restricted inside the building.