Redford Twp. neighbors help save burning man after home explosion

REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJBK) - Authorities are still working to determine the cause of a home explosion that critically injured one person Sunday evening in Redford Township. People from miles away say they heard the noise just before 6 p.m. Many house and car windows were also busted out.

The blast happened in the 19 thousand block of Gaylord, near Seven Mile Road and Grand River Avenue. The explosion blew debris in a 1,000-foot radius.

One person was critically injured in the explosion. Neighbors heard the noise and then saw the man on fire.

"He was on fire, and there was other neighbors trying to put him out, pull him out of the flames," one witness told us, who did not wish to be identified.

"He was alive and pretty beat up from the explosion, but he was responding and awake," Redford Fire Department's Battalion Chief Steve Norris told us. We're told that person was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.

The cause of the explosion is still being determined. Investigators originally hinted they believed it looked to be a natural gas explosion, but Monday morning they said that doesn't appear to be the case.

"DTE Energy has been out. They checked for any natural gas leaks; there have been none. There were no indications of any type of leak near the main or going up to the house, or on any of the surrounding houses," Kevin Crittenden from the Redford Township Police Department. "At this time, it does not appear there was anything criminal in nature about this explosion."

FOX 2 was also told DTE has not serviced this house since 2004, and that a propane hookup may have been being used to heat the home.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.