CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI – A Michigan industrial fire turned deadly Monday night when exploding materials unleashed a barrage of debris. The aftermath of the explosion fatally injured a 19-year-old bystander. The blaze erupted at Select Distributors, a business complex located on 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway.
Firefighters arrived at a chaotic scene, with flames engulfing the building as volatile materials exploded and rocketed outwards. The teen bystander sustained serious injuries and tragically died at a nearby hospital around 4 a.m. Another bystander was struck by a flying propane tank.
Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan expressed his heartfelt condolences to those impacted by the horrific incident. He said, “You just want to hug the family and say sorry…I can’t even imagine what you’re going through today.”
The force of the explosions also damaged emergency vehicles. The explosion sent shrapnel shattering through a fire truck’s windshield, resulting in the injury of a firefighter. Thankfully the firefighter’s injuries are minor, and they are expected to recover.
Investigators believe nitrous oxide and butane canisters fueled the volatile explosions. The canisters were stored within a vape product manufacturing facility that was housed inside the building. The exact cause of the initial fire remains under investigation.