The blast that leveled one home damaged dozens more

A house explosion in Comstock Park last month killed one person, critically injured another, and sent shock waves through a quiet cul-de-sac. Now nearly a month later, neighbors are fighting to get insurance companies to cover the damage done to their own homes.

The explosion happened around 4 a.m. on May 26 in the 5700 block of Rollaway Drive NE. Investigators with the Kent County Sheriff's Office believe the blast was an attempted murder-suicide. The husband allegedly released natural gas into the basement and ignited it, leveling the two-story home.

The wife was pulled from the burning wreckage by two neighbors. The husband's body was found in the rubble later that day. Positive identification is pending confirmation by the Kent County Medical Examiner.

Neighbors describe a war zone

The force of the explosion was felt across the neighborhood. About 50 people called 911 after hearing the blast, according to sheriff's officials.

"I initially thought we were being bombed," said neighbor Chanel Raddatz, who was asleep in her home at the time. "It was a very traumatic experience."

Raddatz and her partner Kurt Dutrizac reported damage to their home's soffits and drywall. Other residents found broken windows and debris scattered across their yards. Several nearby houses had windows boarded up from the force of the blast.

Neighbor Steve Huizinga, who lives a few houses down, said he heard two separate explosions.

"We heard the initial one that woke us up, and then maybe a couple of minutes later, we heard another smaller explosion," Huizinga said.

Insurance companies push back

According to a report from WOOD TV8 on June 18, neighbors are now struggling to get homeowners insurance to cover repairs. Damages include broken air conditioning units, cracked foundations, and structural damage to siding and drywall.

Residents have been told their claims are under review, and some have received pushback from insurers questioning whether the blast damage falls under standard coverage. The WOOD TV8 report noted that neighbors are concerned about whether insurance will cover the full extent of the damage.

Two neighbors acted as first responders

Two people from the neighborhood rushed into the burning home before firefighters arrived. Tim Johnson, 70, and an unnamed 17-year-old pulled the wife from the flames.

Johnson suffered burns to his arm and head during the rescue. The woman was treated on scene and transported to the hospital in critical condition.

"Some heroic efforts by the neighbors to get her from that home," Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir said at a press conference on May 26.

Muir said the woman would not have survived without the neighbors' intervention.

Investigation continues

The case is a joint investigation involving the Plainfield Fire Department, the Kent County Sheriff's Office, Michigan State Police, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Detectives obtained text messages exchanged between the husband and wife before the explosion. Those messages, along with statements recovered at the scene, pointed to a domestic dispute as the motive, according to Muir.

The Plainfield Fire Department's working theory is that natural gas was intentionally leaked into the basement. The exact ignition source remains unknown and under investigation.

Plainfield Township Fire Chief Jeremy Kelly said an explosion of this magnitude was unlike anything he had seen in his career. Officials emphasized during a Tuesday evening press conference that there is no ongoing threat to the surrounding area.

"To the family affected by this, our deepest sorrows for having to deal with a situation so tragic," Muir said. "We really wanted the community to know that this is an isolated incident."