A 66-year-old man has died after the home he was in exploded and caught fire near Sylvan Lake.

On Dec. 5 at 4:49 p.m. the Sylvan Lake Fire Department, Red Deer County Fire Department, Lakeside EMS and the Sylvan Lake RCMP responded to a report of a house explosion and fire at a rural residence located south west of Sylvan Lake in the Red Deer County. Upon arrival, the residence was found to be fully engulfed in flames.

The lone resident, was located suffering from serious burn injuries. He was transported by ground ambulance to the Red Deer Regional Hospital and was then transported by STARS to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary.

He died of his injuries in hospital shortly after 4 a.m. Dec. 6.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and the investigation continues at the scene with the help of the provincial fire inspector.

The identity of the man has not been released pending the notification of his family.

– Fawcett