(WWJ) A house explosion rocked a Birmingham neighborhood Memorial Day morning while a woman was at home.
Birmingham PIO, Fire Chief Paul Wells, said crews responded to reports of a possible explosion in the area of Woodward and Chapin around 9:30 am.
He told WWJ's Christina McDaniel crews arrived at the brick bungalow in "less than a few minutes."
The homeowner managed to escape by jumping out the window, Wells said. No one else was inside with her.
"She did sustain minor injuries, but she's going to be okay," Wells said. "It's a miracle she's going to be okay."
The homeowner did not have to be hospitalized, according to Wells.
The house, on the other hand, is a complete loss.
"The house is not going to be livable again. At some point, we're going to tear it down. All the walls have been compromised," Wells said.
Wells said—once it is deemed safe—crews will try to go into the house to try to recover "valuable items" for the homeowner, including family photos.
The cause of the explosion remains a mystery. Wells said a gas leak or an "appliance malfunction" are possibilities.
12 full-time Birmingham firefighters; and fire departments of Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak, and Beverly Hills all responded to the scene.
Wells told WWJ Consumer's Energy came out to turn off the gas and to check for major gas leaks in the area; he said none have been discovered.
"It was a low yield explosion," Wells said. "It didn't send much shrapnel to the area…so everyone is okay. It's really quite a miracle."
You can hear the whole interview with Fire Chief Wells here.
