Explosion in Dexter critically injures 2 men
Two men were injured after an explosion at the Dexter Utilities Department's water treatment plant.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Editor's note: This article was updated at 3:30 p.m. with information from Dexter Area Fire Department Chief Loren Yates.
Two men were critically injured when methane gas exploded while they were working on a holding tank at the Dexter Utilities Department wastewater treatment plant, officials said Monday afternoon.
The men were working around the tanks at 1:39 p.m. Monday when the explosion occurred, Huron Valley Ambulance spokeswoman Joyce Williams said.
After the explosion, firefighters found the men on top of the roof of a nearby building, said Dexter Area Fire Department Chief Loren Yates. As of about 2:25 p.m., both men had been taken to the hospital by ambulance. Both men appeared to be in critical condition, Williams said. Yates said six firefighters went in the ambulances to assist the injured men.
The men were using a welder's torch on a storage tank when it came in contact with methane gas, causing the explosion, Yates said. The men were employes of a contractor hired to do remodeling work at the utility department, he said.
Yates said firefighters believe both men were in the tank at the time of the blast. One man was blown out of the tank by the explosion and the other man was assisted out of the tank by other workers.
The University of Michigan's Survival Flight helicopter was called to transport the most critically injured man to the hospital, Williams said, but both were sent in ambulances. HVA had sent two ambulances and a supervisor to the scene.
The men were taken to the University of Michigan Hospital by the ambulances, Williams said.
Dexter firefighters were first on scene and they rescued the men with assistance from the Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team. The Chelsea Area Fire Authority was also called in to provide back up, Yates said.
Huron Street was closed to traffic about 100 yards from the intersection with Broad Street just before 2:30 p.m.
Witnesses said the explosion shook nearby homes and businesses. One man said he felt it at the nearby Dexter library.
The explosion occurred in an area hidden behind buildings and trees. Some men working on remodeling a building east of the explosion said they were not aware of the explosion until emergency crews came by.
"I didn't hear the explosion," David Huffine said. "But, then there were fire trucks and ambulances going by so I knew something happened."
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, Yates said. Officials from the sheriff's office did not immediately return phone calls Monday afternoon.
Associate news director Cindy Heflin and crime reporter John Counts contributed to this story.
This article will be updated.
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Comments
jns131
Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 2:59 a.m.
Wow, first Texas now this. Bad luck all around. Good luck to all involve.
OLDTIMER3
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:47 p.m.
The men were found on nearby roof but it further reads they helped the one man from the tank? Evidently the workers weren't following the confined workspace practices where it is sniffed for explosive and other gases.
Center of Left and Right
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 9:20 p.m.
Tragic - and I hope both workers fully recover. I'm a little confused about the story itself. "After the explosion, firefighters found the men on top of the roof of a nearby building,..." "One man was blown out of the tank by the explosion and the other man was assisted out of the tank by other workers." Did the other workers move the second victim to the roof? As a side comment, this story reads like a direct transcription of bullet points jotted in a notebook rather than a distillation of what happened in a typical story form report. Lots of redundancy: "As of about 2:25 p.m., both men had been taken to the hospital by ambulance." "Yates said six firefighters went in the ambulances to assist the injured men." " ...but both were sent in ambulances. HVA had sent two ambulances and a supervisor to the scene." "The men were taken to the University of Michigan Hospital by the ambulances, Williams said." All valid information, but it seems like it could've been written a little tighter. Again, I hope for a fast and full recovery of the men, and support for their families.
julieswhimsies
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 8 p.m.
I live just a few blocks away and heard nothing until the Fire Department and ambulances started driving down Central. The UofM helicopter circled overhead for quite a while. Now it appears that the news helicopters are circling endlessly. My heart goes out to the man who was critically injured and his family. Sending blessings their way.
justcurious
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 7:54 p.m.
It's almost 4:00pm now and I can still hear a helicopter circling. Not sure why. I too hope that the men can recover from their injuries. It must have been a terrible blast to land them on a building's roof.
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 8:03 p.m.
I was out there until about 3:30 p.m. and there was no helicopter when I was out there. When I arrived on scene, about an hour before that, the helicopter was still in the air but both men were gone already.
Sam S Smith
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 7:50 p.m.
Special thoughts and prayers for these men for healing and complete recovery and also for their families and friends!
Melissa Richter
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 7:03 p.m.
It appeared they were trying land Medflight on the Central bridge but were not able to as they circled over my house a half dozen times. Thoughts to the injured man and his family for a quick recovery.
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 7:33 p.m.
Melissa- Joyce told me that spot had been selected for a landing zone but may not have been used.