Mt. Morris, MI – A potential issue with a natural gas line is believed to have been behind an explosion that leveled the On The Spot Car Wash Sunday, July 13 and severely damaged a wall at Grandma Kay’s Family Diner.
Firefighters come to the scene where On The Spot Auto Wash on 11615 N. Saginaw exploded around 10: 00 p.m on Sunday, July 13, 2014 in Mt. Morris.
Grandma Kay’s Family Diner, the restaurant next to the building, also suffered significant damage. In addition, the front windows were blown out of the 1 Stop gas station across the street, and several houses to the west side of the car wash also experienced damage.
“It was definitely natural gas,” said Michigan State Police Specialist Sgt. Lenny Jaskulka of the cause of the explosion, but he noted the ignition point would not be known until excavators are brought in to clear the rubble.
The car wash structure was constructed of masonry blocks, I-beams and wooden frame, Jaskulka, said, with the gas used for tube heaters and blowers at the car wash that had recently been renovated.
No one was injured at the car wash or restaurant, where Jaskulka mentioned there was structural damage that had taken place. A wall at the restaurant could be seen knocked in to a 45-degree angle by the explosion.
Tina Burton, owner of Grandma Kay’s on North Saginaw Road since February, received a phone call at her Flushing home around 10 p.m. from a dishwasher that lives in the area that the restaurant may have blown up.
“I just thank God,” she said of the timing of the explosion, with the restaurant closing at 3 p.m. Sunday. “If it would have been during the week, people would have been inside.”
Residents around the restaurant were busy picking up pieces of glass, photos and other items hanging on walls following the explosion that Mt. Morris Assistant Fire Chief Michael Vogt said sent firefighters canvassing neighborhoods two blocks in each direction to check for damage.
The One Stop gas station across the street from the car wash took direct damage, with glass littering the parking lot, along with damage at the Fairhaven Auto Parts building next door, office buildings and windows at homes.
Jason Hendricks lives on Spruce Street, within a stone’s throw of the restaurant and car wash. He was sitting in his living room with wife Brittany and the couple’s two children.
“I thought somebody lit a bomb right outside the house,” he said, with the explosion shattering a large picture window, but the couple’s 7-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter seated on a couch were not touched by a single piece of glass.
“It was like a blinding sound,” said Hendricks, likening it to “a percussion all around you. You see it in stuff like the movies. I thought somebody was messing with the house or something.”
After stepping outside, he said “I didn’t even know anything was there. There was no dust, debris or smoke, nothing.”
Hendricks expected to board up the 5-foot by 5-foot window with boards overnight until repairs could be made. Other neighbors milling about the scene who live more than a mile away said their homes shook following the explosion.
Vogt said a thorough investigation including Mt. Morris police, fire and Michigan State Police would take place Wednesday or Thursday of this week to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
A man at the scene who identified himself as the owner of the car wash said he’d purchase the property in January 2014 and recently completed renovations on the facility. He declined further comment.
Barton said Grandma Kay’s employs around 10 people from the community and opened March 7 to the public. Several people at the scene said they have breakfast at the diner from time to time.
“I had customers calling me asking what’s going on,” she said, following the explosion. While tears overtook her when asked her first thoughts about seeing the aftermath, she was just thankful no one was hurt.
“I’m happy my employees and myself weren’t here when it happened,” said Barton.