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Man Hurt, Dog Dies In Explosion At Marijuana Storage Unit

MANLIUS TWP., Mich. (AP) - An explosion at a rural storage unit where medical marijuana was being grown injured a man and killed his dog Thursday, a blast that was felt for miles in western Michigan, police said.

The injured man, who was able to crawl out of debris, was near the unit that blew up in Allegan County's Manlius Township, 45 miles southwest of Grand Rapids.
The explosion likely was related to propane and a heater, not marijuana, state police Trooper Andrew Jamrog told the Holland Sentinel.

"It was just one huge explosion - the house shook, pictures fell off the wall," said Doug DeJonge, who lives next to the storage property.

Kristopher TenHarmsel told WOOD-TV that he was growing "fully legal" medical marijuana. He said he rented the storage unit because it was "nicer to keep it out of neighborhoods." He was not there at the time of the explosion.

Jamrog said the explosion was felt at the state police Fennville post, 6 miles away. Police were investigating the cause of the explosion and the marijuana operation.

"I was standing in the kitchen, and the floor shook and the windows rattled," said Karen Klomparens, who lives across the street.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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