Crews Begin Demolition Process in Flint Hogarth Ave. Neighborhood

More than ten months after a house explosion on Flint's west side killed two people and injured several others, crews have finally begun demolishing homes that were destroyed by the blast.

Why the Delay?

It's been more than ten months since the November 22, 2021 explosion gained national attention and left homeowners in a state of limbo. Investigators have been searching for evidence left behind by the blast and inspecting the neighborhood's infrastructure. Earlier this month, investigators determined that a gas leak was responsible for the blast and eventually relinquished control, giving homeowners the opportunity to rebuild.

Investigators, however, were not able to determine the source of the gas leak or what exactly sparked the explosion.

Permits Required for Demolition

The demolition process requires homeowners to obtain permits from the city before the demolition process can begin and Mayor Sheldon Neely tells our news partners at Mid-Michigan Now that two homeowners have obtained permits.

In all, five homes in the neighborhood need to be demolished

He went on to say that the homeowners are working with their respective insurance companies to finance the rebuild process but says he's not ruling out the possibility that additional funds could be available to assist homeowners who need them.

The pictures below were taken on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the day crews were scheduled to begin the demolition process.

If you want to help the victims, you're encouraged to contact United Way of Genesee County, Family Promise of Genesee County or the Red Cross.