2 hospitalized after explosion nearly levels Michigan condo building

ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Orion Township officials said it will take a week to finish their investigation into what caused a massive explosion at a northern Oakland County condominium community on Tuesday that injured two and damaged 18 units.

Two people were transported to the hospital after the evening explosion at Keatington New Town Association, the condo development. One of the injured was in stable condition Wednesday morning, while the other was in “guarded” condition as of Wednesday morning, which is between serious and stable condition, said Orion Township Fire Chief Ryan Allen during a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Orion Township Hall.

Allen declined to give ages of the injured residents.

Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett, who thanked the community for rallying around those impacted by the blast, said it was "absolute miracle" that there were no fatalities in the explosion.

"It is an absolute miracle if you have seen that scene that we are talking currently about no fatalities," said Barnett.

The explosion happened around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night at Keatington, located south of Waldon Road and west of Joslyn Road. Authorities couldn't say how many units are in Keatington total but said four condos are in each building.

In the explosion's aftermath, Allen said 18 units are currently uninhabitable — 6 of which were destroyed, while another 12 units there were damaged.

The cause of the blast, meanwhile, is still being determined. Chris Fultz, vice president of Consumers Energy, said once they turned off the gas at the scene they perform standard checks on their system. They found no abnormalities and will continue to support the fire department’s investigation.

"At this point, we'll continue to be in a support role with Chief Allen as he continues his investigation," Fultz said. "... We're very thankful for our crews and their quick response and the close coordination last night with the fire team."

Barnett said the community has rallied around the 18 families displaced by the explosion and will do whatever they can to help those impacted. A local church was collecting food and clothing on Wednesday.

"We know these people will be well taken care," said Barnett. "It's horrible what happened to them."

Meanwhile, crews continued to comb the scene Wednesday.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said one resident did tell sheriff's deputies that she thought she smelled gas before the explosion.

"Make a phone call if you think you smell something like this," said Bouchard. "Everybody would rather check out a hundred nothings than one real deal."

First responders were dispatched to the two-story building near Pine Ridge Court between Joslyn and Baldwin roads, after the explosion occurred around 6:30 p.m.

Katie Tenbusch, 45, who lives within eyesight of the destroyed home in the Keatington New Town neighborhood, said she had just finished dinner and was sitting on her couch Tuesday evening when everything flew off the walls, even the screws holding picture frames in place. She looked out the window, saw a large puff of smoke, and ran outside.

"It was chaos," Tenbusch said. "Everybody was crying and scared, obviously, I just ran into a couple people I knew and made sure they were okay."

Walking her puppy, Finley, around the neighborhood Wednesday evening, Tenbusch said their community is pretty tight knit. She said she was scared about her own home, too, but that she'd already checked with Consumers Energy who reassured her she is not at-risk.

"I think that everybody will come together and help everyone out," Tenbusch said. "I think that you know anybody that needs anything, yeah, OK, we'll come together."

Paul Kastran, 58, also was sitting on his couch two houses down from the site of the explosion when he heard a boom and saw an orange glow hitting the houses next to his.

He grabbed his phone, ran down the street and saw the gentleman whose home exploded standing in the middle of the wreckage, shocked.

"I was completely shook by it," Kastran said. "I felt when I heard it, I had to go help. I had to go do something."

By 5 p.m. Wednesday, fences stood around the sodden remains of units at Keatington. The neighborhood was quiet, aside from multiple TV trucks, but nearby windows were boarded up and screens shifted off their hinges.

After the explosion, more than a dozen agencies responded to help. Allen said starting Wednesday morning, multiple agencies, including the Orion Township Fire Department, ATF and the sheriff's office and other agencies, worked together to 3D map the scene "to be able to collect all the initial evidence."

He said he anticipates that the complete investigation will take at least a week.

"I don't have a lot when it comes to what happened, where, or the initial cause," he said.

Anyone wishing to donate cash can send money through Love INC of North Oakland County by phone at (248) 693-4357 or online, according to the release.

Barnett said the community is stepping up to help those in need. He recalled how residents "stood up" to help in the aftermath of the Oxford High School shooting in 2021 and said, "they are doing that again."

"We're so grateful for the people who want to help these residents," he said.

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