( MSN )
Hundreds of explosions were reported Monday night in Clinton Township, creating a massive, multi-alarm fire at the Select Distributors facility at 19100 15 Mile Road.
Residents from as far away as 22 Mile Road and Hayes in Macomb Township reported hearing loud bangs that persisted for more than an hour and were still ongoing as of 9:40 p.m. Smoke and flames could be seen for miles.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries, according to the Clinton Township Police Department. A bystander also sustained injuries associated with the incident and was transported to a nearby hospital.
In a Facebook post, Clinton Township police asked residents to avoid the area after several people swarmed the streets in the vicinity, stressing that debris was being projected into the air and falling as far as a mile away from the explosion. In a Tuesday morning Facebook post, the Clinton Township Police Department asked residents to dispose of any debris found in yards from the fire.
The fire originated at Select Distributors, a supplier that stocks combustible materials, as well as novelty items and general merchandise, according to Clinton Township Police Department.
Dozens of emergency vehicles were on the scene. As of about 11 p.m., the fire was well under control, according to multiple reports.
Air quality: 'Nothing hazardous'
Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon said at about 11:15 p.m. Monday that the fire was under control — "that's the good part. (But) I'm concerned about the smoke and the particles going on in the air."
About 30 minutes later, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said preliminary findings from air quality tests determined there was smoke, but nothing hazardous.
Testing was mostly west of Groesbeck, as the wind was pushing smoke westerly and semi-northerly, he said.
Hackel said people with smoke allergies or issues with breathing may want to find shelter or a different location to stay if they are bothered by smoke while inside their homes in the immediate area.
He said the county's emergency management assisted with air quality testing and remained on the scene. He said dust or particles on the ground will be tested if need be.
Cannon said the township would be operating normally on Tuesday.
Firefighter injured
Cannon said he had a report of one minor injury involving a firefighter. He said the report was that something went through the glass front of the fire truck and glass "kind of exploded and cut him."
Cannon said when he arrived home from a township board meeting Monday night "we thought we heard thunder in our house, but it was this explosion." He said he lives about five miles from the scene.
"It was loud. It was horrible," he said, adding there was dark smoke in the sky afterward.
Officials don't know where the fire started or how far it expanded, according to Cannon.
Some of the explosions were captured on video and posted on social media.
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