BREAKING: Explosion at General Motors Milford Proving Ground

General Motors' (GM) Milford Proving Ground reported a loud explosion followed by thick fire on the morning of Tuesday, November 26. The explosion was reported to be in the facility’s natural gas processing unit that was filled with a combustible liquid and oil. No injuries were reported, but the fire damaged two nearby homes in the 100 ft radius.

The explosion occurred at approximately 6:49 am, igniting a large fire in a leased area of the proving ground. The source of the blast was identified as a catastrophic failure of a tank storing an oil and brine solution. The tank, owned and operated by White Rock Oil & Gas, was in the process of being transferred to T2 Operating Corp.

Fire crews from multiple departments responded to the scene, including Brighton, Milford, Highland Township, Lyon Township, and Howell. Due to the lack of hydrants in the area, tanker trucks were deployed to supply water. The fire was brought under control within an hour, but smaller fires continued to burn due to the release of natural gas.

According to the chief of Brighton Fire Authority Micheal O’Brien, the explosion was felt as far as five miles away. “We are taking all necessary precautions, and there is no need of evacuation. Thankfully, there are no injuries reported. Our teams quickly cooled down the adjacent tankers to prevent further damage. We are also closely monitoring the explosion site since some fires are still burning and we are testing air quality,” O’Brien said.

The explosion caused substantial damage to one of the adjacent homes and minor damage to another. Residents reported feeling the blast several miles away. Despite the proximity of the explosion to residential areas, including a school bus stop, no injuries were reported.

Following the fire, GM released a statement stating that it is assessing the source of the fire. “GM fire crews are on the scene and have the incident under control. Local fire departments are standing by if needed. We will continue to monitor the situation,” the statement said.

Environmental officials from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) were dispatched to the site to assess the environmental impact. While groundwater and drinking water were not affected, there was surface contamination from firefighting efforts. EGLE is working to contain and clean up the affected area. As a precautionary measure, nearby roads have been blocked and commuters are advised to take alternative routes.