The two-story home, located near 12th Street and Peoria Avenue, had ammunition inside which was going off while the house burned. Video shared with ABC15 showed black smoke coming from the home, and ammunition could be heard exploding inside.
An ATF spokesperson confirmed that the homeowner was a registered gun dealer and ammunition repacking is allowed in residential areas.
Investigators do not believe that any of the ammunition inside the home sparked the fire or caused the man's death, the ATF spokesperson said.
ATF last inspected the home in 2013 and found it to be in compliance, the spokesperson said.
Authorities have not yet released the victim's name.
Firefighters were able to control the fire. The house has been cleared and officials are investigating. Both firefighters and police officers were at the home.
80yr old man deceased after house fire near 12th st and Peoria. Friend:he had guns in basement #abc15 #breakingnews pic.twitter.com/n0EzIlIJcB
— Luis Anaya (@Real_Anaya15) May 6, 2016
David Armstrong was working on a rental property right across the street when he heard the explosion.
"It was such a consistent pop pop pop pop pop, I've owned guns in my life, I knew it was a small caliber bullet that was going off," he said. "I wish I could have gone in to help. I felt so helpless."
"The firemen I've got to give them credit. When they showed up they just unrolled hose and headed straight for the house, even as things were popping and banging, and walls were coming down," Armstrong said.
Frank Albright lived right by the victim. They've known each other for more than 40 years, he said. He described the victim as a gun enthusiast and hobbyist, who was always very careful and always preaching safety.
"I know he did re-loading, he probably had a quantity of black powder and bullets in there," Albright said. "I'm sad for his family. Terrible thing to happen, the way it did. Don't know what set it off, don't know if anybody knows that."
Air15 video showed footage of what appears to be two large dogs that were dead and were outside the home. It's not clear if the animals died during the fire.
