Orion Twp. Explosion: Gas Line Erupts, Leaves Massive Crater

ORION TOWNSHIP, MI – Emergency 911 service has been restored after being knocked out by a massive explosion caused by the gas line break near the border between the township and Auburn Hills. As of early Tuesday morning, firefighters remained on the scene of the fire, which left a giant crater, some 18 feet deep.

Investigators inspected the site of the ruptured gas line and surrounding area, and found nothing suspicious that might have indicated it was an intentional act, according to a statement from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. The explosion and blast area encompasses roughly 30 to 40 yards around the crater, and the blast exposed about 30 feet of the 22-inch natural gas line.

"We are not aware of any injuries directly relating to the explosion and fire in Orion Township," reported the sheriff's office.

Roger Morgenstern, a spokesman for Consumers Energy, said investigators from the utility remained on the scene as of 11 a.m. Tuesday. He said they would be taking sample of the pipe and checking its condition. While he said was not sure how old the pipeline is, he said the utility lines are inspected every seven years. Most likely, he said, the pipe was inspected about seven years ago.

Consumers Energy also has requested the Oakland County Sheriff's Office to provide aerial images of the scene for their investigation, the sheriff's office reported.

The blast was initially reported just before 11 p.m. on the north side of Brown Road, west of Joslyn Road near Auburn Hills.

"If you are in the Orion Township area around with the area of Auburn Hills, we advise you to stay away at this time," said the Oakland County Sheriff's Office on its Facebook page. "We will be continuing to relaying information as soon as possible."

A follow up post reported that the gas mains were under control, but asked that people still avoid the area.

The Orion Township Fire Department, as well as the crews from Consumers Energy, the owner of the gas line, were still at the site of the explosion Tuesday morning.

Gas to the line was shut off and gas in the line was burned out, officials said. Debra Dodd, a spokeswoman for Consumers, told the Detroit News that company officials did not know what caused the gas line to erupt.

"We do know our security for the line worked as it should," Dodd told the newspaper. "We got an alarm that there’s a low pressure in the system — caused by the gas coming out of the line."

Strangely, gas service to residents was not interrupted. Officials said that was because the gas line that ruptured was not distribution line.

Firefighters from the township, as well as those from nearby departments, were extinguishing brush and tree fires caused by the explosion as of 3 a.m. Tuesday. The sheriff's office said that roads would be open by 4 a.m. Tuesday.

The sheriff's office reported that 911 phone service was knocked out by the blast itself, though initially the outage was attributed to a crush of emergency calls to the lines.

Schools, business and other activities were not expected to be interrupted by the explosion.

RAW: Big Gas Line Fire, Evacuations Near Detroit

Photo via Auburn Hills Police