Uncle: Family devastated after deadly bonfire explosion
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By Robin Schwartz, Fox 2 News -
Savannah Blewett and her brother, Chris
SAINT CLAIR TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJBK) -
Life was just beginning for 18-year-old Savannah Blewett and her 27-year-old brother, Chris. Both had plans for the future. Savannah wanted to be a dental hygienist.
Police said the recent St. Clair High School graduate was celebrating her graduation Saturday trying to make a bonfire out of a wood pile in her family's yard. Chris doused it with gasoline and told Savannah to light it. When she did an explosion killed both siblings.
"It's about the worse case scenario. You're celebrating the end of a high school career," said high school principal Ron Miller.
"They've lost their whole family, so there's no future," said Tom Blewett, the victims' uncle.
He added the family is devastated. Savannah and Chris were the only two children. He said the party was a small gathering and no one under age was drinking. Several people suffered minor injuries. The explosion sent debris flying and blew out windows.
While he wouldn't talk about the fire, Blewett is warning others about the danger of using gasoline.
"For people to be very careful about the things they do in the future. There [are] thing that seem like they're done every day, may seem like they're innocent, can turn out to be very bad."
This family was already dealing with hard times. We're told the children's father is a roofer who fell two years ago on the job and broke his back and legs. He's been recovering and trying to make ends meet ever since.
"I can't imagine what the family is going through when they're dealing with something like this, particularly the loss of two children. I'm heartsick by the whole thing," Miller said.
The high school principal also told us Savannah planned to attend Baker College and had a promising future.
Chris was a roofer like his dad.
A memorial Facebook page is being flooded with prayers and messages.
"Hang on to the people you love because you never know what's going to happen," said a fellow graduate, who added that classmates are stunned.
A memorial fund has also been set up to help the family. Donations can be made at any Chase Bank.
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Savannah Blewett and her brother, Chris
