In a tragic incident that has left a community in shock, four members of an Arkansas family have been identified as the victims of a devastating house explosion in Northfield Township, Michigan. The explosion, which occurred on December 30, claimed the lives of Hope Bragg, 51, her husband Don Bragg, 53, and their two children, Kenneth Bragg, 22, and Elizabeth Bragg, 19. The family had been visiting from Monticello, Arkansas for the holidays.

Authorities from the Northfield Township Police Department have stated that the blast, which completely destroyed the single-family home, was likely caused by a fuel explosion. Lieutenant David Powell emphasized that no foul play is suspected at this time. "The investigation is still ongoing. I can say preliminarily, and it's subject to change pending further analysis of the evidence and interviews, that we have an undetermined fuel-air explosion. We do not expect foul play at this time," he said.

The homeowner, Richard Pruden, 72, who is Hope Bragg's father, was also injured in the explosion and remains in critical condition. The family's youngest child, 16-year-old Stephen Bragg, fortunately, sustained only minor injuries and is in stable condition.

The impact of the explosion was so powerful that it could be heard in Jackson, a neighboring area. Lieutenant Powell described the scene as something he had never witnessed before, highlighting the extent of the damage caused by the blast.

Hope Bragg was an instructor at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, while her husband, Don Bragg, worked as a research forester at the U.S. Forest Service. The loss of this accomplished couple has deeply saddened their colleagues and friends.

In the wake of this tragedy, a vigil will be held on Saturday, January 6, at Whitmore Lake High School to honor the memory of the Bragg family. The community is coming together to support the surviving members of the family, as well as to mourn the loss of their loved ones.

Both the Northfield Township Police and the Michigan State Police are actively continuing their investigation into the incident, seeking to determine the exact cause of the fuel explosion. As the investigation progresses, authorities hope to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.