The investigation into an explosion at an Inkster home is ongoing, according to police and fire officials. A resident in the home suffered burns over 35 percent of his body when the house exploded.
The explosion took place at a home on the 26000 block of Penn Street at about 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, according to official reports. A DTE employee working nearby was also injured in the blast, according to Inkster Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard.
Hubbard said the one-story home was fully engaged in flames when firefighters arrived but was quickly extinguished which prevented damage to nearby homes. While the fire destroyed the home where the explosion occurred, only one nearby house was damaged.
Five area fire departments responded to the explosion which rocked the neighborhood. While no official cause of the explosion has been determined, neighbors reported that DTE workers were performing construction in the area. While two DTW employees were evaluated for injuries at the scene, only one sought treatment, according to reports.
“Our teams focus on maintaining the safety and integrity of our system of underground natural gas pipes through a robust program of inspections, maintenance and upgrades,” said DTE spokesperson Dana Blankenship in a prepared statement.
“As always, we urge anyone who may smell or suspect a gas leak to call 911, then contact DTE at 800-947-5000 (or your natural gas provider).
