Current:Home > Scams19-year-old dies after being hit by flying object from explosion, fire in Clinton Township-LoTradeCoin
19-year-old dies after being hit by flying object from explosion, fire in Clinton Township
View Date:2024-12-24 00:49:29
A 19-year-old died after he was hit with a flying object from a fiery explosion at a vape distributor about a quarter mile away in a Detroit suburb.
Fire officials raced to put out a massive fire as hundreds of explosions boomed in Clinton Township, around 25 miles north of downtown Detroit, at around 9 p.m. on Monday night. The explosions and fire happened Monday night at a business building that housed Select Distributors, as reported by the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Fire Chief Tim Duncan said the 19-year-old may have been observing the fire from a nearby carwash when he was struck, but officials were still in the process of investigating the death.
The Clinton Township police said area residents and businesses were evacuated.
Duncan said he could hear the explosions from his house 7 or 8 miles away as he rushed to the scene.
"You could see the amount of fire just coursing in the sky," he said at a press conference on Tuesday morning. "The explosions were actually shaking the car."
Duncan said the explosions were so intense that firefighters couldn't initially approach the building. "We had to back out," he said. "There was no way we could put people in harm's way like that."
"This by far was the biggest one that I've ever seen," said Duncan, who has fought fires for 25 years.
The fire was reportedly under control by 11 p.m. Monday, but the cleanup for the explosions and fire continued through Tuesday morning.
Here's what to know about the fire.
Nashville plane crash:5 people dead after single-engine plane crashes along interstate
Where were the Clinton Township explosions?
The fire and explosions began in a building that housed Select Distributors, police said.
Duncan said Select Distributors provides gases for vape pens. The building also houses Gu, a vaping distributor that had over 100,000 vape pens in storage at the time of the fire.
"They had literally received a truckload of butane within the past week, and they still had over half of that left," Duncan said. "So this is what you're seeing strewn throughout the area."
Duncan said company employees were interviewed by officials from the local fire department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Monday night. The investigation is ongoing, under the jurisdiction of both agencies, Duncan added. Clinton Township Police are also assisting.
"Our last inspection did not show this amount of material in that building. So we're going to look into that," Duncan said.
Residents up to 10 miles away in Macomb Township, Michigan, reported hearing loud bangs that persisted for more than an hour. Smoke and flames could be seen for miles.
Were there any injuries?
Duncan said a firefighter was briefly hospitalized after he was hit with broken glass and shrapnel from the explosion.
Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon said the firefighter was injured when an object went through the windshield of the fire truck.
Both a police and a fire vehicle were also hit and damaged by exploding projectile cannisters.
Duncan said county officials had to "scrape the road" to clear debris from the explosions.
Social media captures fire, expulsions
Did the fire affect the air quality in Clinton Township?
Duncan said a hazmat team that arrived to test the air quality on Monday evening concluded that the area was safe.
"They monitored the situation, they had all their equipment set up," Duncan said. "Everything came back fine. They weren't concerned."
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said on Monday night that preliminary findings from air quality tests determined there was smoke, but nothing hazardous.
Testing was mostly west of Groesbeck, as the wind was pushing smoke westerly and semi-northerly, he said.
Hackel said people with smoke allergies or issues with breathing may want to find shelter or a different location to stay if they are bothered by smoke while inside their homes in the immediate area.
He said the county's emergency management assisted with air quality testing and remained on the scene. He said dust or particles on the ground will be tested if need be.
The disaster knocked out power throughout the area, Duncan said. Technicians for Detroit Edison, an electric utility company, were working to restore power as of Tuesday, he said.
veryGood! (3913)
Related
- Utah AD Mark Harlan fined $40,000 for ripping referees and the Big 12 after loss to BYU
- Fear and confusion mark key moments of Lahaina residents’ 911 calls during deadly wildfire
- New York man charged with smuggling $200,000 worth of dead bugs, butterflies
- Jury convicts one officer in connection with Elijah McClain's death
- Amtrak service disrupted after fire near tracks in New York City
- GOP Rep. Mike Lawler won't support Scalise and thinks McCarthy may yet return as speaker candidate — The Takeout
- Haiti refuses to open key border crossing with Dominican Republic in spat over canal
- America can't resist fast fashion. Shein, with all its issues, is tailored for it
- FSU football fires offensive, defensive coordinators, wide receivers coach
- Court hearing to discuss contested Titanic expedition is canceled after firm scales back dive plan
Ranking
- NBA today: Injuries pile up, Mavericks are on a skid, Nuggets return to form
- Chipotle menu prices are going up again, marking the 4th increase in 2 years
- Social Security 2024 COLA at 3.2% may not be enough to help seniors recover from inflation
- AMC CEO Adam Aron shared explicit photos with woman who then tried to blackmail him
- Georgia House Republicans stick with leadership team for the next two years
- New species of ancient scraper tooth shark identified at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky
- Offset's Lavish Birthday Gift for Cardi B Will Make Your Jaw Drop
- Mexico takes mining company to court seeking new remediation effort for Sonora river pollution
Recommendation
-
Taylor Swift Politely Corrects Security’s Etiquette at Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Game
-
In Beirut, Iran’s foreign minister warns war could spread if Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues
-
Judge scolds prosecutors as she delays hearing for co-defendant in Trump classified documents case
-
Residents sue Mississippi city for declaring their properties blighted in redevelopment plan
-
Mike Tyson concedes the role of villain to young foe in 58-year-old’s fight with Jake Paul
-
How Travis Barker’s Daughter Alabama Barker Gets Her Lip Filler to Look Natural
-
Climate change raises concerns for future of marathons and runner safety: Analysis
-
The 13 Best Good Luck Charms for Friday the 13th and Beyond