Update – One dead in Cass County explosion

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One person is dead following an explosion in Cass County on Monday.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says it was called to the scene at a petroleum pumping station in the 19,000 block of Bulhand Road in Calvin Township shortly before 4 p.m. The initial calls came from nearby residents who heard a loud explosion that shook their homes.

The investigation found two men had been working on a tank when it exploded and caused a fire. 71-year-old Charles Lawrence of Lakefort, Michigan was killed. 38-year-old Kevin Lawrence of Osceola, Indiana suffered minor injuries.

The pumping station is owned by Trak Oil company out of Port Huron.

The incident will be investigated by the Michigan State Police Fire Marshal and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Also responding to the scene were the Penn Township Fire Department, the Cass Area Fire Department, the Elkhart Fire Department, SEPSA Ambulance, and SMACS Ambulance.