Cleanup of exploded warehouse in Clinton Township complete, EPA says

The wreckage following the initial cleanup of the Clinton Township Goo Smoke Shop building. The EPA finished cleanup in December (Photos via EPA)

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Almost a year since an explosion left one dead and the Clinton Township community shaken, federal officials say they have finished cleaning up the site that was leveled after thousands of canisters were ignited.

The EPA said this week it had completely disposed of waste materials at the former Goo Smoke Shop building. Their cleanup included degassing and recycling thousands of compressed cylinders containing nitrous oxide and butane.

While the cleanup is finished, more of the story needs to play out with the owner of the building currently awaiting court dates after he was charged with involuntary manslaughter last year.

What we know:

The EPA completed cleanup of the site on Dec. 4 and left the site on Dec. 13.

Because of the hazardous nature of the materials left behind following the explosion, special heavy equipment was required to manage the various powders and chemicals throughout the rubble.

When cleanup began, officials needed to remove various cans of butane, intact compressed gas canisters, vape pens, and lithium-ion batteries.

The EPA could not confirm how many canisters ignited, but estimated it was "in the thousands," according to an update on their website. Everything taken off site was disposed of at an EPA-approved facility.

What we don't know:

Much remains unknown about what caused the canisters inside to explode.

Multiple explosions were reported on the night of March 4 at the warehouse, which was reportedly used for storage of compressed canisters. What started the explosion is a mystery.

It's also unclear who will absorb the cost following the EPA's cleanup. The defendant, Noor Kestou of Commerce Township, was arraigned in April 2024. His involvement in the warehouse's management or what he was aware of is unclear.

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By the numbers:

According to the EPA, 28,295 gas cylinders containing nitrous oxide that were intact and fire damaged were rendered inert.

The number of canisters that did explode was in the thousands. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of ultra-refined butane were identified during the cleanup.

Here are the final numbers for the cleanup:

857 tons of construction and demolition debris
7,253 tons of ferrous metal and 33,780 tons of non-ferrous metal were recycled.
174,051 (DDR damaged, defective or recalled) lithium-ion batteries were recycled.
12 lead acid batteries.
28,295 aluminum and steel nitrous oxide (N20) compressed gas cylinders were degassed, devalved and were recycled.
73 55-gallon drums containing 14,980 pounds of waste, nicotine compounds, liquids [or] nicotine preparations, liquid, n.o.s. (Lithium hydroxide)
12 drums (6,600 pounds) of nitrous oxide (N20) cream chargers (also known as whip-its)
4 drums (320 pounds) of waste, butane petroleum gases, liquefied.
12 drums (4,858 pounds) of lighters containing flammable liquid.
11 drums (4,400 pounds) of non-hazardous, non-regulated material (non-RCRA cleaner).
1 drum (400 pounds )of non-hazardous, non-regulated material (coil and antifreeze)