IRON RIVER, Mich. (WZMQ) – UPDATE 2/14/24: The Iron River Police Department has identified the victim in Saturday’s home explosion as Gregory Dierkes.
IRPD says the Dierkes family expressed their gratitude to the community for how people have come together to help each other in the aftermath of the explosion. The family wants the community to know that Dierkes had just purchased the home and moved to Iron River from Florida. He was a Vietnam Veteran and owned a cabin on Cable Lake years ago and wanted to return to the area. The family says they made many memories in the Iron River area, especially at Angeli’s and Riverside Pizzeria.
Gregory Dierkes (Iron River Police Department)
UPDATE 7:25 p.m. 2/11/24:
A WZMQ reporter spoke with investigators at the scene Sunday afternoon. A family in a home across the street has also been displaced because of the explosion. Iron River police tell WZMQ the home was blown several inches off the foundation, making it too dangerous to enter.
Iron County Central Dispatch confirms the American Red Cross is assisting the displaced family in finding alternative housing.
UPDATE 9:35 a.m. 2/11/24:
More information has been released on the house explosion that took place on Saturday night in the city of Iron River.
At approximately 9:30 pm CST, deputies from the Iron County Sheriff’s Department and troopers from the Michigan State Police Iron Mountain post were dispatched to an explosion at 820 Cayuga Street in the City of Iron River.
Upon arrival, officers found the residence mostly destroyed, with debris scattered as far as three blocks away.
The Iron River City Fire Department and several other fire departments from Iron and Dickinson Counties were called to the scene and searched for potential victims.
At this time, there is one confirmed fatality, an 80-year-old man who had just moved into the home from Florida.
While authorities do not suspect criminal activity at this time, the explosion remains under investigation. The Iron River City Police is leading the investigation.
Troopers from the other MSP posts, as well as the MSP K9 units and the 8th District MSP Fire Investigator were also called to assist.
WZMQ will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
ORIGINAL STORY 2/10/24:
Iron County Central Dispatch is asking Iron River residents to avoid an area downtown for an “active fire call.”
The agency posted to Facebook around 10:30 p.m. Saturday that the West Iron County Fire Department is at an active fire scene and asked residents to avoid the area near the Family Dollar/ Windsor Center to N 9th Ave.
The agency also says the Windsor Center’s back entrance is open to those in the area who have been evacuated.
No other details have been confirmed at this time. WZMQ is working to get more details about the incident.
