VIDEOS: Investigators say a natural gas leak may have caused a house explosion that rocked a Westland neighborhood Monday evening. Westland Fire Marshal Kelly Eggers told 7 News Detroit that the blast happened inside a vacant home on Calhoun Court near Merriman Road and Michigan Avenue. The explosion is part of a troubling trend across metro Detroit, where at least five home or apartment explosions have occurred in the last seven months, including incidents in Orion Township, Detroit, Southgate and Garden City.
Juliana Sanchez, who lives down the street, was one of the first to call 911 after hearing the explosion around 6:50 p.m. “I kept smelling gas, but I didn’t know where it was coming from,” Sanchez said. “Then, there was a loud boom. It was pretty scary.” Sanchez captured cellphone video of the immediate aftermath, showing debris scattered across the yard where the home once stood. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time. Neighbors say the home has been vacant and is owned by a property company.
