A major explosion that could be heard as far as two miles from the scene has pulverized a South Haven Township home in Van Buren County this evening sending both residents in the home at the time to area hospitals.
South Haven Area Emergency Services firefighters responded at 5:57 pm to the 70th block of 2nd Avenue in the Township, after an explosion that registered with a Michigan State Police Trooper on I-196 two miles from the scene.
The one-story, ranch style house disintegrated in the explosion. Reports are that neighbors rescued the two occupants, a man and a woman who were taken to Bronson-South Haven Hospital for immediate treatment. One of the occupants was subsequently flown by helicopter to a South Bend Hospital.
The resulting fire was extinguished by firefighters from South Haven Area Emergency Services, Bangor Community, Columbia Township and Ganges Township departments. Covert Township ambulance transported one of the victims. South Haven Police Department and Michigan State Police assisted at the scene.
The cause remains under investigation, and authorities say that a state Fire Marshal has been requested.
It was the second major fire in South Haven today. Earlier in the day fire damaged a commercial building, Adventure Water Sports on Dunkley Avenue in the city.
The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market is courtesy of South Haven Area Emergency Services.
