Orion Township explosion: 2 seriously injured, home leveled by blast
Orion Township condo explosion destroys home, leaves trail of damage
A condo explosion in Orion Township on Tuesday night destroyed a home and damaged nearby homes. The explosion also critically injured two people. SkyFOX was over the scene on Wednesday morning to capture the aftermath of the blast.
ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Two people are in critical condition after an explosion that destroyed an Orion Township condo Tuesday evening.
VIEW: Photos of explosion aftermath
A suspected gas leak led to the explosion around 6:30 p.m. at Keatington New Town Condominiums on Waldon between Joslyn and Baldwin Roads. It was a sound that could be heard and felt for miles.
"I was on the computer and there was a shockwave. The screen popped out at me and everything came off the walls," neighbor Scully Hirsack said. "I ran outside and saw that the corner unit was just gone."
1 Orion Township explosion victim remains in critical condition
A woman injured in Tuesday's condo explosion in Orion Township remains in critical condition, while the condition of a man who also suffered critical injuries has been upgraded. Authorities said he is now talking to investigators about what happened before a suspected gas leak led to the blast.
The blast leveled one home and damaged other nearby homes. After the explosion, a woman in her 60s and a man in his 80s were missing. They were later located alive, but with critical injuries. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the woman was still in critical condition, but the man's condition has been upgraded, and he is now talking with investigators about what happened.
Several others suffered minor injuries, too.
"I think we are very fortunate to be able to walk away and have everyone accounted for, and to say we have as few in critical condition as we do," said Orion Township Fire Chief Ryan Allen. "This could have been much worse. At this point in time, I think we are really fortunate we have as little as we have."
Officials said one home exploded, damaging other nearby condos.
"There's people that are here in my backyard that live on the other side of the lake, that are coming over, that could feel it all the way over there, just like a bomb went off," said Glenn DeRadder, who lives nearby.
The aftermath of an explosion that leveled a condo in Orion Township
On Tuesday night, a Consumers Energy spokesperson released a statement:
"Earlier this evening we were notified of the explosion in Orion Township and sent crews to the scene immediately. 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."
Fire officials remain at the scene, and will continue investigating the explosion as the sun comes up and reveals the extent of the damage.