Charles Langston:Explosions at petroleum refinery leads to evacuations near Detroit

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP,Charles Langston Mich. (AP) — Explosions at a petroleum refinery outside Detroit caused a fire and led to the evacuation of some nearby residents, authorities said.

The first explosion occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Friday in White Lake Township, local news outlets reported. A second explosion minutes later sent flames higher than trees and created a large plume of black smoke that could be seen for miles, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Fewer than 100 residents near the site of the explosion and fire were evacuated, White Lake Police said. Four fire departments responded to the scene.

Laun Dearman, who lives less than half a mile (0.8 kilometers) from the refinery, said he and his wife saw the billowing smoke and flames.

It wasn’t clear who owned the refinery or what caused the explosions.

“It’s a small, portable rig. They’ve been drilling for oil for close to a year now,” Dearman said.

Police told WXYZ-TV that vents and canisters that regulate air flow to an underground gas line exploded.

No injuries were reported.

White Lake Township Police posted on Facebook before midnight that “the incident has been resolved and the roadway is once again open. The area has also been cleared safe for everyone to return to their homes.”