A blast that shook homes three miles away

A home on Rollaway Drive NE in Plainfield Township was leveled in an explosion just before 4 a.m. Tuesday. The blast was so powerful that it shook houses as far as three miles away. Nearly 50 people called 911 to report what neighbors described as a bomb-like detonation.

The explosion destroyed the home completely. Debris was scattered across the street and into neighboring yards. Heavy smoke billowed into the sky for hours afterward.

"It sounded like a huge bomb being dropped," neighbor Chanel Raddatz said.

"There was a massive noise, explosion, rumbling," neighbor Kurt Dutrizac said. "We saw a fireball, kind of mushroom cloud, still rising from the house."

Heroes in the wreckage

Two neighbors rescued a woman from the burning home before firefighters could reach her. Tim Johnson heard the woman yelling for help after the blast shook his own house. He and 17-year-old Mandrell Bryant grabbed the woman by the arms and pulled her from the wreckage.

Johnson sustained second-degree burns to his head and hand during the rescue. He was not seriously injured.

"I had to get in there and get her out," Johnson told WOODTV.

The woman was treated on scene and taken to the hospital. She was later listed in critical condition, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Office.

"We are incredibly thankful to the nearby residents that rushed to the (woman's) rescue and were able to pull her from the home," Undersheriff Bryan Muir said. "Without their actions, it's likely she would have perished in the fire."

Investigators say fire was intentionally set

Authorities believe the explosion was not an accident. Undersheriff Muir said Tuesday afternoon that the fire appears to have been intentionally set as part of an attempted murder-suicide.

"This is believed to be a domestic-related situation ... and that the fire was intentionally set, we believe by the husband at this point, intending to be a murder-suicide," Muir said.

Crews recovered a body from the wreckage shortly before noon. Investigators believe the body is that of Doug Preston, though a positive identification had not yet been made. News 8 learned through family, property records and court records that Preston lived at the home with his wife.

The couple was in the process of divorcing at the time of the explosion. Court documents obtained by News 8 showed the pair were disagreeing about the division of assets and alimony. Their next court hearing was scheduled for Friday.

The investigation continues

Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the scene. Alpine Township Fire Chief Jeremy Kelly said the blast was believed to have been caused by natural gas that was allegedly intentionally released into the basement.

"The theory at this time would be that it was a leak of the natural gas that was probably allegedly intentionally released into the basement. Unknown what the ignition source was to cause the explosion," Kelly said.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on scene investigating. DTE Energy crews also responded to make the scene safe for investigators.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information to contact them at (616) 632-6125. Detectives specifically requested that anyone with video evidence share it with investigators. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345.

A GoFundMe account has been launched to help cover the injured woman's medical care and future needs.