ORION TWP. (WWJ) — Crews are continuing to investigate an explosion and large fire in Orion Township Tuesday evening that injured several people, including two people who were hospitalized with critical burns.
The explosion happened around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Keatington New Town Association, a condo complex in the area of Waldon and Baldwin Roads.
Orion Township Fire Chief Ryan Allen said the explosion -- which investigators believe was "probably" caused by a gas leak -- leveled one building and caused significant damage to a neighboring building, while two or three others sustained minor damage.
Allen said two critically injured people were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Wednesday morning, it was reported that one of those people was an 82-year-old man who remained hospitalized on Wednesday with severe burns.
The second hospitalized person is said to be a woman in her 70s, also with severe burns. During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, authorities did not release specific information about the hospitalized victims, but said they had been upgraded to "serious but guarded condition."
Several other people in the area were treated for minor injuries, according to Allen. WWJ's Mike Campbell reported Wednesday morning a 75-year-old woman who was walking her dog when the explosion happened was injured, but is expected to be OK.
Allen had said late Tuesday night two people were "unaccounted for," but it was later confirmed that those two people have been located and are fine.
While the exact cause of the explosion was not immediately known, Allen said Tuesday night it appears to have been caused by a gas leak. At Wednesday's press conference, Consumers Energy VP of gas operations Chris Fultz said the company's initial investigation revealed there were no abnormalities in their infrastructure up until the gas meter.
"If this was a gas explosion, it occurred from something going on inside the residence," WWJ's Tim Pamplin reported following the press conference.
Allen said in Wednesday's update it will likely take investigators about a week to complete their initial investigation and as long as three to four weeks until the full investigation is completed.
Officials said 18 units were either completely destroyed or need significant inspection to make sure they're habitable. Another 12 units also sustained damage and need to be inspected, officials said.
A relocation and displacement center has been set up at Woodside Church in Orion Township to help residents who have been impacted by the explosion and fire.
At least seven neighboring fire and police departments responded to the scene to assist Tuesday night.
A neighbor described the explosion to WWJ Newsradio 950's Darrylin Horne, saying she was using the computer when she heard "a boom."
"Everything popped off the walls and ran outside to see what was going on because I could hear neighbors shouting already," she said. "I saw immediately that the corner unit was just flattened and there was a lick of flame going up top."
The woman said she went around the corner to check on her elderly neighbors before running back inside to grab important documents, got in the car and got away from the building.
She said the response time was "very impressive," as multiple fire trucks were at the scene "immediately."
Fultz told WWJ's Taylor Dietz they were sending crews to help fire marshals investigate.
"It's a partnership," he said. "We'll work with our Michigan Public Service Commission, we'll work with any local fire marshal, any local authorities there. And then we'll have our investigators try to get to the cause of it."
Any victims in need of immediate support, should call the American Red Cross at 1-800- RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). You can also call the Township at 248-391-0304 ext. 2009.
Cash donations can be made through Love INC of North Oakland County by phone at 248- 693-4357 or online at https://loveincofnoc.org/. All clothing and food donations can be dropped off at Woodside Bible Church, located in Canterbury Village at 2500 Joslyn Road. Residents in need of food may use Woodside’s Village Food Pantry, also located in Canterbury Village at (2325 Joslyn Court); their phone number is 248-391-1900.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest details as they become available. >>> LISTEN LIVE!