A quiet evening in Westland, Michigan, was dramatically interrupted on Monday when a vacant house exploded on the 31000 block of Calhoun Court, rocking the neighborhood. As reported by CBS News Detroit, the explosion occurred around 6:50 p.m., and no injuries were reported as the house was unoccupied at the time. Westland Fire Battalion Chief Brian James is leading the investigation into what caused the incident, and according to The Detroit News, the structure was undergoing renovations and missing a couple of appliances.
Residents near the blast site recount the explosion's impact, with Rebecca Salinas telling CBS News Detroit that it "shook everything". Another neighbor, Rick Melendez, described how he had just walked into his home with his family moments before the house next door exploded, leaving him wondering, "what caused this explosion like this" Investigations are also looking to thoroughly check into a March incident mentioned by Salinas, where a worker reportedly hit something while digging in the yard of the now-destroyed home but had ceased work and hadn't returned since.
Utility companies responded quickly, with DTE immediately cutting power to the house and Consumers Energy checking for potential underground gas leaks. Matt Johnson, spokesperson for Consumers Energy, stated that while their checks returned negative for any leaks, they "can't rule out" gas as a possible cause, as detailed by The Detroit News. This prompted the Western Wayne County Urban Search and Rescue team to respond to ensure no other hazards.
