Orion Township community members gathered yesterday for a vigil, praying and standing in solidarity next to the charred remains of what once was a home for many before a condo explosion rocked the area. According to ClickOnDetroit, Danielle Redilla, a 32-year-old resident, recounted the harrowing experience, saying, "I just felt hot air in my face and then I looked in my corner kind of where my wall is shared with my neighbor and it was totally in flames." She was one of the fortunate ones, escaping the blast without severe injuries and finding immediate help from the community.
The explosion that occurred last Tuesday at Keatington New Town Condominiums is believed to have resulted from a gas leak. This suspicion was also reported by Hoodline, which noted that two elderly individuals were critically injured and many were displaced. The Township Supervisor, Chris Barnett, highlighted the devastation caused, with windows blown out and a unit knocked off its foundation, mentioning that the damage looked "like something in a movie."
Pastor Josh Yates from The River Church in Lake Orion, was on seen leading the prayer vigil. Speaking to WXYZ, Yates emphasized the need for ongoing community support, as the affects of the disaster would extend into the coming weeks and months. Autum Marshall, another resident of the complex, echoed the sentiment of community strength, "When something like this happens, the community just comes together and just supports each other and that’s what we really need when a tragic thing like this happens."
DTE and Consumers Energy have since worked with emergency crews to control the aftermath. A statement released by a spokesperson for Consumers Energy and provided by Hoodline included, "As first responders are still actively battling the fire, we do not have additional information about the cause of the explosion or about the status of anyone in the building." These companies along with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office continue to investigate the exact cause of the explosion, with indications still pointing towards a gas leak as the preliminary culprit.
