Mitch Hotts
The Macomb Daily, Mount Clemens, Mich.
(TNS)
Apr. 6—The two brothers who were inside a Mount Clemens townhouse that exploded are not cooperating with investigators attempting to determine the cause of the blast, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
Authorities said the blast took place about 9 p.m. Wednesday, blowing the two-story structure off the foundation and sending windows flying into the street at the North Rose Town Houses, west of Groesbeck Highway, near the Macomb County Jail.
Investigators initially said a natural gas leak was the suspected cause of the explosion, but with the occupants refusing to share what they know, officials aren't so sure.
The brothers were able to climb out of the wreckage, according to first responders. But they have had little to say to deputies looking for information about the incident.
"The 30-year-old resident remained on scene and gave very little details as to what had occurred," Sgt. Renee Yax of the sheriff's office said in an update.
"The 25-year-old brother of the resident who had also been inside had already left the scene. He did return to be medically checked out but refused to speak with deputies."
Both males were transported to the hospital for minor burn injuries, Yax added.
A family in the unit next to the explosion was obviously frightened but unhurt.
On Wednesday night, Mount Clemens Fire Capt. Nick Candela said firefighters from several communities worked about 90 minutes before getting the blaze under control.
"We couldn't send anyone inside because there was a structural collapse hazard," Candela said.
"We knew everyone had gotten out, so it wasn't worth the risk of sending firefighters in. We used a defensive operation watering the units from the outside. Our biggest thing was to stop it from spreading from neighboring units and going all the way down to end of the units."
When fire crews arrived at the scene, they saw flames and smoke coming from the basement of the corner unit. Within minutes witnesses reported seeing flames coming through second-floor windows.
Candela said several residents reported smelling gas in the air prior to the explosion. Crews from DTE Energy and Consumers Energy were called to the scene to shut off and test lines in the immediate area.
Karen Lincoln, a former corrections officer who lives in the complex, said the blast sounded "like a bomb."
"We heard this big explosion, like someone had crashed into the building or something," she said. "Then I saw people starting to run from the scene and I went out there to see what I could to help."
Vicki Jastrzebski, who lives near unit that exploded, said it was occupied by the two men, while a family including young children live next door.
"They're all nice people but I was worried about the kids," she said.
Fire officials said the one unit is uninhabitable, while the next-door residence sustained soot, water and smoke damage but appears to be inhabitable.
Damage was estimated to be upwards of $200,000.
The sheriff's office posted a deputy at the scene overnight to watch over the scene. Sheriff's officials were back on Thursday attempting to conduct an investigation.
Aside from the brothers' refusal to cooperate, the other problem investigators face is they can't safely enter the building, which is at risk of collapsing.
Mount Clemens firefighters were assisted by crews from Clinton and Harrison townships, as well as Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
"We really appreciate the efforts of all of the crews," Candela said. "They did a great job in keeping the fire from spreading through the entire block of townhouses."
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