Stolen furnace leads to explosion at house on Detroit's west side

No injuries reported in explosion

DETROIT – A stolen furnace that left a gas line open Friday caused an explosion at a house on Detroit's west side, police said.

Debris can be seen scattered in the Detroit neighborhood on Evergreen Road just south of Warren Avenue. Investigators said there was an explosion just after 3 a.m. Friday.

Officials said somebody stole a furnace from the house and left the gas line running. As gas filled the house, officials believe the flame burning in the water heater likely ignited the gas and air mixture, causing the explosion.

The front of the home was blown onto the sidewalk about 25 yards away. Two homes on each side were damaged, and many neighbors said they felt and heard the explosion.

"How did the kitchen end up on the sidewalk?" Nathanael Wilson said. "The kitchen's on the sidewalk, or whatever, and it's bad. It's bad."

"By the time we got up and tried to run to the side and check on the dogs, the side of the doors had been blown in," Deatrice Trammell said. "The glass, crack in the wall. It's just crazy. It's been a long night."

A car in a nearby driveway was damaged in the explosion. Trammell said it might have been totaled.

A witness inside a gas station about four or five houses away said when the explosion happened, the doors to the gas station blew wide open.

Police officers who were three or four blocks away said they also heard and felt the explosion.

Authorities say that no one was injured as a result of the explosion and that no one was inside the house.

Here's an aerial view of the aftermath: 

Stay with Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit for update.


About the Authors:

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.