WALLED LAKE, Mich. – Four people were severely burned Thursday morning when an apartment building exploded in Walled Lake.
It happened at the Lighthouse Apartments just before 6 a.m. on 14 Mile Road, west of Novi Road.
IMAGES: Walled Lake Apartment fire
Investigators said the explosion appears to have been sparked by a 26-year-old woman lighting a cigarette inside a house that had a gas leak.
The explosion burned through several apartments, scorched cars that were parked outside and startled several people.
"It was a boom!" said Paul Roberts.
The woman, plus three men, who are in their late teens and early 20s, were burned and sickened by smoke inhalation. They were able to get themselves out of the building.
All of the victims are being cared for at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Tow are in stable condition, one is in serious condition and the fourth is in critical.
"We did evacuate a couple other people from units once we got here who weren't aware of the fire at the time," said Walled Lake Fire Captain Matt Salow.
Neighbor Naeil Hamama said the apartment where the explosion originated has had trouble before. He said police have been to the apartment before, even recently when one tenant was attacking another with a crowbar.
Eight people are displaced.
Consumers Energy said they tested the gas line leading up to the apartments and it was fine, meaning the leak happened inside the apartment.