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News
By Allison Joy
IRON RIVER — A house explosion in Iron River over the weekend has left one man dead.
At 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, deputies from the Iron County Sheriff’s Department and troopers from the Michigan State Police Iron Mountain Post were dispatched to an explosion at 820 Cayuga Street. Gregory Dierkes, resident of the domicile, died in the explosion.
Homes in the surrounding area suffered damage, with upwards of 100 broken windows and debris still littering the street for blocks days after the incident. Sources report damage as far as a quarter mile from the explosion site.
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement officers were assisted by the West Iron County Fire Department, American Red Cross and emergency responders with Aspirus Medevac. Dierke was the only fatality, and law enforcement reported no other injuries.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown and the investigation is ongoing. The Iron River Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from an MSP fire investigator.
Dierkes, 80 years old, had recently purchased the home and moved to Iron River from Florida, after having owned a cabin on Cable Lake and spending time in the area.
Residents as far as two miles away described the experience similarly: a loud boom, comparing it to the sound of a bomb, the shaking sensation of an earthquake and a flash of light.
“The whole neighborhood shook,” said one. “It felt like an earthquake.”
Those close to the explosion site evacuated, with the Windsor Center opening its doors to displaced residents. They returned home to find broken windows and doors, roof damage and debris scattered across the ground and into the treetops.
“We have plenty of donations for the explosion families and are no longer accepting items,” the Windsor Center posted to its Facebook page on Feb. 11, the day after the explosion, and directed community members to call the AmericInn to make microwaveable meal donations.
Crystal Lumber donated 68 sheets of plywood along, with screws, delivered to Police Chief Curt Harrington on Sunday to help cover windows broken in the explosion
“We’re not just a business, we’re also members of this community, so we were happy we could help out in some small way,” said Ron Deuter, business manager for Crystal Lumber. “No doubt that was a scary moment for Iron River, and a tragic one.”
Residents affected and in need of materials can contact the West Iron County Fire Department.