A volunteer paramedic who was among the first responders to a deadly fire and explosion last month at a Texas fertilizer plant on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to allegations that he possessed materials for a pipe bomb. By agreement between the defense and the prosecution, an afternoon hearing on Wednesday was cancelled after Bryce Ashley Reed waived his arraignment, according to local TV channel KHOU. U.S. authorities announced on May 10 that they have launched a criminal investigation into the April 17 explosion in the Texas town of West, after arresting Reed on the same day and charged him with possessing an explosive. But officials did not say if the arrest of Reed is connected to the April 17 blast that killed 14 people, injured around 200 and destroyed hundreds of homes in the vicinity, Local sheriff's deputies were called to a residence where they found components for a pipe bomb. Reed, 31, told authorities the materials for explosive devices were his, according to reports. Authorities said earlier this month that investigators have determined that a stockpile of ammonium nitrate at a fertilizer plant in the U.S. town of West was the source of the deadly that virtually leveled the town. However, the ignition source for the ammonium nitrate, an explosive chemical, remained undetermined. Fire alone cannot cause ammonium nitrate, a chemical usually used to make fertilizer, to explode. The investigation continues into other factors, such as intense pressure or extreme heat, that may have ignited the explosion, according to media reports. State and federal agents will release this week the findings of an investigation into the West explosion, according to reports. Enditem

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