RANSOM TWP, Michigan – Fire officials are investigating the cause of a powerful explosion that leveled a rural home in Ransom Township on Tuesday, Feb. 1. The Wright-Waldron and Woodbridge fire departments rushed to the scene of a massive blaze in the 5000 block of East Burt Road around 8 p.m.
Residents in the area reported feeling an “explosion” and the shockwave could be felt in neighboring properties. The homeowner was outside the home when the blast occurred, and fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to Wright-Waldron Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Barnhart.
The force of the explosion scattered parts of the home’s walls as far as 15 feet from their original location. Windows and smaller debris were found up to 40 feet away from the house, in a nearby ditch, when firefighters arrived.
Although the cause of the explosion is yet to be officially determined, the homeowner suspected a gas leak from the stove. He had reportedly been smelling gas inside the home for over a week. Mutual aid was brought in from Pioneer, Ohio, Hudson, and Jefferson Township to fully extinguish the fire, and the Hillsdale City Fire Department arrived with the county’s air trailer.
The investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing, and fire officials continue to work on determining the exact source of the blast. All firefighters had cleared the area by 11 p.m.
For further updates on this developing story, follow local authorities and stay tuned for the latest news and developments.