Witnesses reported hearing an explosion Thursday morning near Ferndale Airport and said it appeared to have come from a garage off Eastman Drive.

The blast shook the walls of Brent Battles’ nearby house on Ferndale Drive, he told the Inter Lake. He and his wife rushed outside, toward a field, where they spotted a plume of thick black smoke hovering over a cluster of trees.  

They initially worried it might have been a helicopter crash, he said.  

Battles described the sound as akin to a propane combustion. He called 911 as they headed toward the field, and dispatchers told them emergency responders were aware of the situation.  

Several residents from the area posted on social media, reporting the noise. Throughout the day, witnesses uploaded videos and photos of a structure fire on Facebook.  

Battles later told the Inter Lake the explosion appeared to come from a garage, and that the fire was put out by first responders by early Thursday afternoon.  

Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department officials did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment by press time. 

Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].