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)