Firefighters put out a blaze that broke out on Thursday at the Birchgrove Mobile Home Community, located at Pioneer Road in the city of Marquette. A police official said a preliminary investigation indicated that an explosion took place in one of the homes. The occupant of the home was treated for minor burns at the scene. No other injuries were reported. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

By Journal Staff

MARQUETTE — A man suffered minor burns following a Thursday trailer explosion at the Birchgrove Mobile Home Community.

The Marquette Fire Department reported in a news release that it was dispatched at 3:09 p.m. Thursday to lot 60 at Birchgrove, located at 500 Pioneer Road in the city of Marquette, for a trailer that exploded. While MFD units were enroute to the incident, Dispatch notified incoming crews that everyone was out of the structure.

The first engine that arrived at the fire reported that the trailer had exploded and was fully engulfed. A second engine then established a water supply, with the initial crew stretching an attack line and starting to knock down the fire. Two firefighters used an additional handline for an adjacent trailer, which had caught on fire due to the initial blast.

That trailer, MFD said, was vacant, and the extension was contained to the rear portion of the home. However, several neighboring trailers also were damaged from the explosion, although the homes did not catch fire.

The SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company and the Marquette Board of Light and Power were on scene quickly to shut off the gas and electricity to the involved trailers.

The fire was knocked down within the first few minutes and completely extinguished within the hour, the MFD said. Crews remained at the scene doing overhaul operations.

The resident of the trailer that exploded was treated on site for minor injuries by UPHS Unit 144 crew and refused transport to the hospital. No firefighters were injured as of press time.

All displaced parties were put up at the Ramada Inn using the Pigs-N-Heat Fire Relief Fund, which raises money to help people affected by a fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. MFD fire investigators, along with a the Marquette Police Department detective, were at the scene.

The MFD was assisted by the MPD, the Marquette Township Fire Department, the Chocolay Township Fire Department, UPHS Unit 144, the BLP and SEMCO.