EAST JORDAN – An explosion Friday evening that leveled a house, killed one of its residents and injured two others is being investigated in Charlevoix County today.
Reports of the explosion brought emergency first responders rushing to the scene on Bergman Road in Wilson Township at 7:22 p.m. Friday where the single-family dwelling was leveled and debris was scattered more than 100 feet, authorities said.
East Jordan Fire Chief Glen Thorman said, when firefighters arrived, a small fire was still burning where the house had been.
Thorman confirmed one of the residents died in the explosion. A second person was flown by AeroMed to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, and a third was taken by ambulance to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.
Their names were not confirmed by authorities and their conditions were not known.
But several friends and colleagues confirmed that Wanda Losher, an attorney with a firm in East Jordan, was the resident who was killed.
Jodi J. Doak, an attorney with a practice in Boyne City, wrote in a social media post: “I am deeply saddened to confirm that Wanda Losher, a valued friend and colleague, lost her life in a tragic home explosion.”
“Wanda embarked on her legal career with my practice in 2013, fresh from law school,” Doak continued. “She spent a year with us before successfully establishing her own practice, where she provided invaluable services to numerous individuals including many circumstances with great generosity.
“The friendship Wanda and I shared over 12 years was one of profound respect and camaraderie, and her passing leaves a void in the lives of those who knew her.”
Doak said Losher was a Christian, a big animal lover and a farmer. “She moved north and lived on family property here that was a small farm. Wanda raised milking cows, dogs, cats, and chickens. She made yogurt, and gave people gallons of milk from her cow. She was a really nice, kind, and very generous person.
“She helped so many people who couldn’t afford a lawyer. A lot of times, she helped people and didn’t charge them.”
A woman who stood by the roadside Saturday morning near where Losher’s house had been said she was a close friend and client.
“I will remember her as a very loving and compassionate person,” said the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, through her tears.
Mike Sutton of Levering said he was a client of Losher’s.
“Through that, we built a friendship,” Sutton said. “She put her heart and soul into our case. Losing her is pretty devastating after what she did for my family. She will be missed.
“It’s hard to believe that such a tragedy like this happened.”
The cause of the explosion has not been determined and is being investigated by the Michigan State Police.
Assisting the East Jordan Fire Department at the scene were the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office, Antrim County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and the Fire Marshal’s Office, Boyne City Fire Department, Banks Township Fire Department, Jordan Valley EMS Authority, Lake Charlevoix EMS Authority, and Aero Med.