Fire and Tragedy in Michigan: The Aftermath of a Vape Industry Distributor’s Involvement in a Fatal Explosion

Goo, a vaping industry distributor owned by Noor Noel Kestou, experienced a fatal fire and explosion in Clinton Township on March 4. The building housed over 100,000 vape pens and authorities revealed that a shipment of butane canisters had been delivered to the site shortly before the explosion. The blast ejected canisters up to 2 miles and more than half of the stock remained in the building when the fire ignited. Turner Lee Salter, 19, was fatally impacted by a nitrous oxide canister that travelled a quarter of a mile due to the explosion.

On April 20, Kestou attempted to flee the country for Hong Kong on a one-way ticket. He was apprehended at John F. Kennedy International Airport by U.S. Customs and New York Port Authority officials and brought back to Michigan on Wednesday. Kestou, who is from Commerce Township, was charged with involuntary manslaughter during his arraignment on Thursday. Officials expressed uncertainty about Kestou’s intentions, questioning if he was trying to evade responsibility for the incident that took place in his business.

Kestou’s business had obtained an occupancy permit in September 2022 to operate as a retail location selling vape-related merchandise. However, due to his ownership of the business, he had been considered a suspect from the start of the investigation into the incident. His attorney James Thomas declined to comment on the case, leaving many unanswered questions regarding its aftermath.