KI SAWYER — One man was severely injured after a building at K.I. Sawyer exploded Monday morning.

Just before 9:00 a.m., emergency responders were dispatched to the incident on 3rd Street. First responders Peter Ritari, Jeffery Vultaggio and Ryan Peterson were first on scene and noticed a victim laying out front of the burning building. The men pulled the victim to safety.

The victim was taken to U.P. Health System – Marquette for treatment. Firefighters were able to extinguish a fire inside the building.

According to Forsyth Township Police Chief Gordon Warchock, marijuana was being grown inside the structure. It is not currently known if the marijuana was being grown legally.

“Our main focus right now is not to try to figure out who to prosecute for this. Our main focus is — right now — is to figure out what caused the explosion,” said Warchock.

A state fire investigator and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were all on scene investigating the incident. The building is considered to be a total loss. A neighboring building was also damaged in the explosion. The sole occupant of the second building at the time of the explosion was uninjured.

We will have more information on the incident as it becomes available.