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"They should have bought a lottery ticket on that day," said Brown City Fire Chief Jim Groat. "Both are darn lucky to be alive."

Jay Jakubowski, 39, was living in the basement of the Burnside Township log cabin while he finished construction of his home. Jakubowski was in the shower and a worker was sanding and finishing wood floors upstairs when the 8:05 p.m. explosion occurred. "He hadn't been home for less than one half hour when it happened," Groat said. "The rear door blew out 90 feet. The rear windows blew out 120 feet but weren't even broken."

Jakubowski and the unnamed workman escaped without any injuries. The worker is thought to have run out the front door, and Jakubowski somehow out the basement.

"All he can remember is that he went out the back," Groat said of Jakubowski.

The Brown City Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Marlette, North Branch and Elk Township. Firefighters were aided at the scene by the Michigan State Police, Brown City Police and Marlette EMS.

When Groat arrived, the house was in flames and already leveled.

"A neighbor heard the explosion and said one moment later it was on the ground and totally engulfed," Groat said. About 45 firefighters were on the scene and used 35,000 gallons of water. The new one-story log home with a loft is a total loss with replacement estimates of $200,000. The American Red Cross was called to help Jakubowski find lodging and clothing.

"He's insured, but he lost everything," Groat said. "But he's got his life.

Trooper Cevin Brown is also amazed the two lived through the explosion. "I can't believe the two men just walked away," Brown said. "It looks like a bomb went off." The incident is under investigation by state police fire investigator James Bush. A dryer gas leak is suspected to have caused the accident.