Friday, February 6, 2015

NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION DID NOT CAUSE THE MASSIVE FIRE AT AN UNADILLA TOWNSHIP, MI STORE. THE CAUSE AND ORIGIN OF THE FIRE ARE UNDETERMINED



 NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION DID NOT CAUSE THE MASSIVE FIRE AT AN UNADILLA TOWNSHIP, MI STORE.  THE CAUSE AND ORIGIN OF THE FIRE ARE UNDETERMINED

 February 6, 2015

Unadilla Township, Michigan

Officials say a cause will likely never be determined for the massive fire that burned the Unadilla Store to the ground and severely damaged an adjacent home. 

Unadilla Township Fire Chief Mark Schroeder says there was a great deal of damage from the January 27th fire and much debris left at the scene, but not a whole lot of evidence left to go on. He tells WHMI they probably won’t be able to pinpoint a cause and at this time, and are labeling it undetermined. 

He says they were finally able to meet with Consumers Energy at the site Wednesday morning to conduct a pressure test on the natural gas line. 

Schroeder says they were on site for about five hours, with the main focus being to secure the remaining portion of brick wall between buildings so it was safe for Consumers Energy workers to get in between them and safely test the natural gas line, which was accomplished. 

He says the pressure test on the natural gas line passed with flying colors and it has been determined that natural gas had no role in the fire at all. 

Schroeder says it’s his understanding that the structure next door to store will be rebuilt and he thanked all of the agencies involved from the day of the fire up until Wednesday including all of the investigators, the DART Team, American Red Cross and the Livingston County Road Commission. (JM)