The Detroit News
(TNS)
Two people were critically wounded and two were described as "missing" after a condominium building in Orion Township exploded Tuesday night.
Orion Township Fire Chief Ryan Allen called the operation a "rescue, not a recovery" as of 9:30 p.m. Technical rescue teams were going in to verify "either there is or isn't somebody" in the debris. Allen said firefighters were using drones to search for victims.
"There could be fatalities," Allen said.
During an initial press conference at the scene, Allen said the cause was "probably" a gas leak. He didn't know yet where in the building the leak may have originated. At a later press conference, Allen said crews were working with Consumers Energy on a "gas-fed fire" on one side of the building.
"They're having to excavate it in to the ground in order to access it," Allen said. "Unfortunately, it's just one of those unusual situations that's difficult to get to. So, we're working with them in order to make the scene save."
First responders were dispatched to the two-story building, in the 2000 block of Pine Ridge Court, between Joslyn and Baldwin roads, after the explosion occurred around 6:30 p.m. The blast could be heard miles away, according to accounts on social media.
Allen said he expected the sheriff's department and the township would work together to start a relief effort for those affected by the blast. Nearby churches "have opened their doors" to take people in, said township Supervisor Chris Barnett.
DTE and Consumers Energy worked with first responders to stop the gas leak before rescue crews continued their operation.
“Earlier this evening we were notified of the explosion in Orion Township and sent crews to the scene immediately," said Tracy Wimmer, a spokesperson for Consumers. "As first responders are still actively battling the fire, we do not have additional information about the cause of the explosion or about the status of anyone in the building.
"Our crews are on site and will move ahead with their work once first responders have deemed it safe to do so. We are committed to the safety of residents and the community and will continue working closely with public safety officials.”
DTE did not immediately respond for comment.
Departments that responded to the fire included crews from Orion Township, Oxford Township, Independence Township, Oakland Township, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills; as well as the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and others, Allen said.
In addition to destroying one building, the explosion did "significant" damage to another and minor damage to "two or three other buildings," Allen said.
One of those buildings was the home of Ross Flore, who lived next door to the home that exploded.
"I was sitting on my couch and then all of the sudden every window in the house exploded," he said. "When I went out, (the neighbor's) unit was gone. It was like it vaporized."
Flore had to leave his keys and wallet at his home since authorities would not let him inside. It had been declared structurally unsound. He was concerned about his cat, which he hadn't seen since the explosion happened.
"When I went upstairs (directly after the blast), I looked on the bed and the whole wall was on my bed, so I don't know if my cat was under there," he said.
At 11 p.m., Flore was station at nearby Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, where the Red Cross was providing water, snacks and information for Flore and a handful of other displaced residents.
Church volunteers said they'd keep the building open all night in case anyone else needed help. They also were planning to provide breakfast and lunch Wednesday.
Another neighbor's home, Flore said, had even worse damage than his own. He said after the explosion, he and others in the neighborhood were trying to dig that neighbor and her dog out of the rubble before first responders arrived. He said that woman was eventually freed and wasn't among the residents for whom firefighters were still searching that night.
Allen said there were also "a couple of minor injuries."
Flore said he was trying to reach his son to see if he might be able to sleep in his son's car, or whether he'd stay at the church or find a hotel room.
"It's hard for me to say, 'Yes, I have a place to go to' or 'no I don't,'" Flore said.
©2024 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
