At least 2 injured in explosion at condominium building in Oakland County, Michigan
Orion Township, Michigan (CBS Detroit) – At least two people were injured Tuesday night when a possible gas explosion caused a fire at an apartment building in Orion Township, Michigan, officials said. Two other people whose whereabouts were unknown have been found safe.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, an explosion occurred at the Kittington New Town Association apartment complex on Walden Road between Joslin and Baldwin roads around 6:30 p.m. local time.
Orion Township Fire Chief Ryan Allen said the explosion destroyed a four-unit building, causing major damage to one of the buildings and minor damage to several others. He said about 20 people were displaced but found a place to go Tuesday night.
Allen said crews worked with utility providers DTE and Consumer Energy to contain the gas leak.
Photo courtesy of Orion Township Residents
Allen said the two people hospitalized were a 72-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman with serious injuries. Their current status is unknown. An unknown number of people also suffered minor injuries, he added.
The Sheriff’s Office said there were no reports of fatalities.
“Initial indications are that it was a gas explosion, but the cause has not yet been determined,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Orion Township is located north of Detroit.
Courtesy of Cody Coleman
A resident who lives nearby told CBS Detroit News he was home with his family when the explosion occurred.
“We just heard a huge explosion that shattered my whole house. I looked out the window and I saw the flare, I saw flames shooting out of the sky,” the resident said. “It felt like knocking down a wall. It felt like it was happening in my home. I was scared. It was so powerful.”
Consumers Energy said in a statement that it had “no additional information on the cause of the explosion or the condition of anyone inside the building” as firefighters were still battling the blaze.
The company said crews will head to the site once security clearance is obtained.
contributed to this report.
