Photo by Lisa Heileman An Alpena home sits completely destroyed after an explosion from an expected gas leak on Tuesday. Two men were injured and transported to the MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena.

ALPENA – Two Alpena residents were injured in a gas explosion at a home on Alpena’s northside on Tuesday, according to City of Alpena Fire Chief Andy Marceau.

The gas leak and explosion forced first responders to evacuate the immediate area until the leak was located and addressed.

the evacuation order was lifted at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The blast also damaged a pair of adjacent homes, Marceau said.

The explosion, which happened near the intersection of Clark Street and Merchant Street, could be heard or even felt in downtown Alpena.

The blast severely damaged the home, but did not set it on fire, after the initial burst.

The emergency happened when two Alpena residents were in the process of checking on a home currently without power when it blew up without warning.

“A resident of the home, along with one of his co-workers were checking on the property, they have no idea what caused the explosion,” Marceau said.

Both of those individuals needed medical attention following the explosion. One man was sent to a hospital down state with serious burns, while the other man was expected to be released from the hospital soon, Marceau said.

The entire area around the home had to be evacuated after the explosion occurred. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, the area was still evacuated, and crews were on scene to shut off the gas supply.

The air smelled of gas when a reporter from The News was at the scene. The initial response included eleven on-duty firefighters and the Fire Chief. An additional six off-duty firefighters were called in to assist with operations. Multiple agencies responded to assist, including MyMichigan EMS, Alpena City Police Department, Alpena Power Company, DTE Energy, Alpena County Central Dispatch, City of Alpena DPW, and Thunder Bay Transportation Authority.

No firefighter injuries were reported.

One fire unit remained on scene until DTE Energy was able to deem the area safe.

The weather conditions, combined with the recent ice storm, are believed to have been the culprit behind the explosion.

“Ultimately yes, it was likely caused by a combination of things, including the ice storm, and the below average temperatures lately,” Marceau explained.

Marceau urges the community to take caution if you smell an odor that is similar to rotten eggs, immediately leave the area and call for help.

“If you smell gas, get out and call 911. This was a freak accident that does not happen if the power in the home was on,” Marceau said.

During cold and snowy periods of bad weather it is critical to make sure your exhaust pipes and vents are clear of any blockages and to be sure portable heaters or cooling units than run on gas are used safely.

“To avoid home gas explosions in cold and snowy weather, immediately clear snow and ice from exterior vents, pipes, and gas meters, keeping a two to three foot radius clear,” Marceau added.