Michigan legislative action thread
Posted on 09/12/2015 2:00:10 PM PDT by cripplecreek
Though Elwood Hansen's rural property had both ample amounts of fireworks and dynamite on it, authorities don't think the explosives had anything to do with what blew up his solidly built, 140-year-old stone house while he was inside.
The 79-year-old Bridgewater Township man was likely asleep in his bedroom when he was killed in the blast around 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning, said Michigan State Police Sgt. Chuck Bachmeier.
At least one of his two dogs also died in the explosion. The other was unaccounted for. No one else was injured, according to Bachmeier.
A neighbor told The News Hansen, who was well-known in the farming community for selling fireworks from a tent beside his house each summer, had to have his propane disconnected while selling any explosives per state law.
The neighbor, Bill Klanger, said Hansen had recently been talking about getting his propane tank reconnected. Officials couldn't comment until further investigation is conducted.
Around 2 p.m. Saturday, police had acquired the search warrants necessary to go through the remaining buildings on the property. Hansen lived in the 140-year-old stone house for about 60 years, neighbors said. The home was on five acres, but Hansen's brother owned the surrounding 95 acres, police said.
The blast was powerful enough to leave an old stone house in a pile of rubble.
"Whatever happened to it must have been a huge explosion," said neighbor, Kristin Klanger. "It was all stone, thick, thick, thick stone with field rock walls. It took something really powerful to blow it (up)."
The numerous outbuildings were believed to contain both fireworks and dynamite, Bachmeier said, but he reiterated that officials didn't believe the explosives played any part in the blast.
Hansen's handiness with explosives was illustrated in the minutes of a 2010 Bridgewater Township board meeting. Hansen was appealing a fire service charge for " blowing out a stump on his neighbor's property."
"Hansen reported that he is licensed by the State of Michigan and that he used a binary explosive which does not explode until mixed with liquid," the minutes said. "Hansen also reported the fire department parked on the side of the road and did not exit their vehicles. Hanson said the person who placed the call should be held responsible since there was no fire and no crime had been committed."
A Michigan State Police fire marshal was in charge of the scene. The Manchester Fire Department was assisted by many other agencies, including the Ann Arbor Fire Department, the Pittsfield Township Fire Department, Chelsea Area Fire Authority, Huron Valley Ambulance and the HART response team, which helps agencies on scene by providing refreshments and other assistance.
Officials expected to have rural Burmeister Road back open to traffic late Saturday afternoon.
"Blowed up real good!"
I guess he decided to hook up his propane tank on his own.
The police seem adamant that it wasn’t explosives so that pretty much leaves propane. Gas explosions are mighty powerful. They are awfully cautious about speculating that it was propane though.
So, houses just blow up sometimes?
My first thought as well.
How does one get to be a 79 year old explosives enthusiast anyway?
Very carefully.
“Local Man Goes Out With A Bang”
What is it about 79-year-old explosives
that interested this man so much anyway?!
My thought, exactly. LOL!
So, houses just blow up sometimes?
Indeed they do! I’ve seen some firsthand from gas explosions and there is not much left.
Like this
http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/House-Explosion-in-Beltrami-County-Injures-One-Person-289896771.html
Yep, like that. Yikes!
Propane and natural gas are to be respected.
Rest in peace.
Wonder if his nickname was boomer?
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