Aftermath of Orion blast: Donations of food, clothing, shelter for those

A massive explosion thought to be caused by a natural gas leak Tuesday night in Orion Township is being matched — by a massive outpouring of aid to those left homeless.

Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett stood Wednesday afternoon with a gathering of local officials investigating the blast and directing the aid.

“I want to thank the community for an incredible show of support,” Barnett said, citing the almost instant response of people wanting to help feed, clothe and house the dozens who were left homeless in the blast. Barnett recalled how his community reached out in 2021 to neighboring Oxford Township as its residents reeled following the high school shooting that killed four students.

“We were so supportive of our neighbors in Oxford in their tragedy. Now, our neighbors are helping us,” he said, adding: “And I met people out there at the scene last night who were already trying to help.”

Tuesday’s explosion, at 6:20 p.m., left 18 condominiums completely or nearly destroyed and another dozen “are questionable,” Orion Township Fire Chief Ryan Allen said at the Wednesday news conference Barnett led inside the township hall. Following the explosion and the resulting fire, a man and woman in their 70s were hospitalized in serious condition with severe burns, although both had improved by Wednesday afternoon to stable condition, Allen said. Officials have evacuated more than two dozen of the condos, leaving many residents seeking refuge.

Some residents are forced to relocate Wednesday Nov. 20, 2024 after they were rocked by this condominium explosion in the Keatington New Town Condominiums in Lake Orion Tuesday.

Stepping in to help almost immediately was Woodside Bible Church, which opened its doors Tuesday night to some of those left homeless, Barnett said. The church’s Orion Township branch also is serving as a gathering site for donations of food and clothing. Contacts for the church and for other organizations accepting donations are listed on the websites of Orion Township and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Barnett said.

He thanked Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard for the county’s assistance, and Bouchard smiled but had a warning:

“We also know that there are people who will look to profit from this. They try to profit from other people’s pain and suffering. We encourage everyone to donate only to those organizations” listed on the websites.

Many of the condo residents who were evacuated from the complex, on Waldon Road between Joslyn and Baldwin roads, are fearful of returning, Barnett said. So the township “will be sending our teams into every unit” to inspect “and make sure that our residents feel safe.”

Steve Larson, left, of Rochester Hills helps his son Kyle Larson, 29, and his girlfriend Bailey Warren, 32 evacuate from their condo on Wednesday Nov. 20, 2024 after they were rocked by a condominium explosion across the street in the Keatington New Town Condominiums in Lake Orion Tuesday. The couple had just moved in two-months-ago.

Officials said their investigation would take about a week to determine the cause of the blast. Bouchard said: “One woman did say she could smell gas before this happened. If you think you smell something, get away from it, don’t turn anything on, and call” for assistance.

Barnett said he was delighted to see the assistance coming to those in need but also relieved that the tragedy wasn’t worse.

“It is an absolute miracle, if you have seen that scene, that we had no fatalities,” he said.

To help those affected

Call the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.
Call Orion Township at 248-391-0304, ext. 2009.
For food, visit the Woodside Bible Church “Village Food Pantry” at 2325 Joslyn Court in Canterbury Village. For more information, call 248-391-1900.
Monetary donations can be made through Love INC of North Oakland County by calling 248-693-4357 or visiting loveincofnoc.org.
Clothing and food donations may be dropped off at Woodside Bible Church, located at 2500 Joslyn Road, in Canterbury Village.

By Wednesday, an online GoFundMe site had been launched to collect donations for newlyweds who lost their home and two cats in the explosion at their condo. More than $17,000 had been donated to the couple in just a few hours, said GoFundMe spokeswoman Angelique McNaughton, in an online announcement. The site had a short note from the couple’s relative, Scott Falconer of Lake Orion, who launched the site.

“This is my newly married in September nephew and niece, Drake and Nina Falconer,” Falconer wrote on the page of the fundraiser. “On November 19th, there was a terrible explosion and fire that destroyed their entire home and all the contents. We are certainly grateful for their personal health and continue with prayer for the other neighbors devastated by this tragic event.”

McNaughton of GoFundMe said the fundraising site was watching for more requests to assist those left homeless by the blast. She said, “Our team will continue to monitor the platform for related fundraisers and will be sure to share those once they are verified.”

Contact Bill Laytner: blaitner@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Oakland County community rocked in condo blast but warmed by donations

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