LEE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and Marengo Fire Department responded to an explosion in the 22000 Block of M Drive North in Lee Township on Tuesday.
When emergency crews arrived they discovered that an oil pumping and storage station had exploded and two storage units were on fire.
Marengo Fire Department and eight other fire departments from the surrounding area worked to put out the fire.
Lee Township's Fire Chief said he observed that two tanks with crude oil in them exploded, blowing the tops off the tanks.
According to reports one of them still has not been found.
Fire crews worked for several hours, not only to put out the flames, but to keep three nearby tanks cool, so they would not explode.
They first used foam.
Applying it aerially, but they did not have enough foam for this fire.
So emergency responders used old fashioned fire fighting techniques, water..
However, this is a rural area and fire hydrants are hard to come by..
Fortunately, a lake was located just a little more than 2 miles away.
"We set up a pumper at the lake and then as the truck would empty, it goes around the block, fills, circles around dumps and they just keep that chain going, around and around. All different departments, all different trucks but they all work together, and it made it, it made the fire go out," said Art Blight of the Lee Township Fire Department
According to authorities, no one was injured and the incident remains under investigation.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Appleand Android
and
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox.
Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
